During the time period 1st January - 31st December 2007 NIPU will undertake programmes focusing on the current status of the problem of national integration in Sri Lanka:

1. National Reconciliation through inter religious dialogues
2. National Integration through language and culture
3. National Integration through the promotion of public culture of pluralism
4. National Integration through constructive handling of differences and conflicts
5. Promotion of national reconciliation among the war-affected North-East communities
6. Sinhala-Tamil integration in the Plantation areas
7. Coordination, Monitoring and Research Unit at NIPU

1. Name of the Programme
   Strengthening Sinhala-Tamil community relations in the Up-country plantation areas
   
   
2. Goal
   
   
   • Promotion of national integration friendly culture among the up-country Tamil and Sinhala Communities
     
     
   • Promoting values strengthening a public culture of pluralism among the communities in the upcountry areas.
     
     
   • Making all three communities to realize that the Up-country Tamils constitute an integral part of the Sri Lankan society and that they too not only play an important role in the affairs of the state but also have legitimate rights which other citizens of this country enjoy.
     
     
   • Empowerment of Up-country Tamils through systematic awareness and skill development programmes on the constitutional and legal rights.
     
     
   • Forging mutual interaction and understanding among the different communities in the region, mainly village-estate integration
     
     
   • Assisting the institutions in the government to organize and develop effective service delivery systems targeting the Up-country Tamils with the participation of civil organizations
     
   
   
   
3. Objectives/ Activities
   
   
   • Establishment of an Advisory Board
     
     
   • Establishment of Core groups in selected plantation areas consist of educators, local level politicians Trade Union leaders and regional plantation administrators.
     
     
   • Supporting the government institutions to undertake effective and efficient delivery system on issuances of Birth certificates and National Identity Cards in the plantation areas.
     
     
   • Establishing Adult literacy Training Centers on the plantation areas to improve the literacy level of the adults as well as youths who are not entered the school education systems.
     
     
   • Organizing mobile services in collaboration with relevant public institution to facilitate the plantation communities.
     
     
   • Organizing mobile counseling service to the Tamil youths in upcountry to reach the services of the state
     
     
   • Supporting cultural and religious activities of the communities of plantation areas.
     
     
   • Organize community interactive dialogues for youth and other opinion leaders in the plantation regions
     
     
   • Organize inter cultural, religious and social activities
     
     
4. Target Group
   
   
   • Up country communities in general, Up-country Tamils in particular
   • Community leaders and NGO activists in the plantations and the neighboring villages
   • Plantation sector Trade Union Activists
   • Teachers & Students in the area
   • Local & Provincial Level Politicians
   • Government Officers working in the Area