NPC’s District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) have conducted several seminars and awareness raising activities around the country since October in the wake of the Constitutional crisis triggered by President Maithripala Sirisena’s sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.
Nuwara Eliya DIRC organized a public seminar in Hatton on the role of citizens to protect democracy, which was attended by 60 people representing different civil society groups. Participants were told about the court verdict against dissolving the parliament and provisions of the Constitution.
In Colombo, NPC participated in a meeting organized by the National Civil Society and Trade Union Forum with civil society and trade union leaders to discuss what actions could be taken and what events could be organized during next 12 month to strengthen democracy and good governance. An action plan to make the public aware about the current political issues was prepared.
Around 100 civic society activists representing several civil society organizations and trade unions, including 22 DIRC members, participated in the event.
It was decided to conduct a larger conference in Colombo in March with 5,000 people. In preparation a series of seminars in 15 districts will be held.