Peace Building Project

The building of Peace Consciousness has a central focus in project activities.

Radio being the medium with the widest reach (over 95%), live radio discussion programs on peace related matters was begun in June 2004. The "Subharathi" program on the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation is dedicated to raising peace consciousness. Broadcast every Saturday morning, on a high listener belt, the participants in this are pro-peace academics, peace activists and those in the media and cultural fields who encourage peace.

Independent listener research reveals that the Sinhala program in this series is heard by over eight million listeners; the Tamil program has nearly three million listeners.

Multiculturalism and Trust Building
The promotion of multi-cultural values and trust building is an important aspect of peace building. At times of conflict we have intervened to reduce tension, understand the reasons for the conflict and helped resolve such conflict situations.

Bulathsinhala
When communal disturbances took place between Sinhalese and Tamils in late May 2004 at Bulathsinhala, a township in the Kalutara District, the Peace Building Project investigated the incidents, submitted a report (link to report) and helped in establishing a Peace Committee in the area.

Moneragala
A similar intervention was undertaken more recently in Moneragala when a tense situation developed in the relations between the Sinhala and Muslim villagers in this area.

Based on this experience, emphasis was given to communal empathy, multiculturalism and peace consciousness among the younger generation as promoters of peace in society.

Trust building and enhancement programs were held at Bulathsinhala (Kalutara District) and Hanwella (Colombo District) where different communities live side by side. The program used the award winning film "Saroja" - with an anti-war theme having special impact on children - as an educational tool.

Kathankudy
In October 2004, when clashes between rival Muslim factions took place at the town of Kathankudy in the East, a special team from the Peace Building Project visited the scene of the violence and assisted in bringing about a measure of tolerance among the rival groups. The report produced by this committee warned that the crisis was caused by a developing schism among sections of the Islamic faith, that there was foreign funding involved and warned of similar eruptions of violence later.