Peace and Harmony among Muslims and Sinhalese in Kegalle

This programme is working to heal the ethnic and religious divides in the Kegalle district of Sri Lanka through a series of multi-ethnic community and youth societies and groups.

Description

The initiative started in 2001 in response to the ethnic and religious division made apparent by the mass destruction of Muslim mosques in Mawanella in 2000. It targeted youths, adults, and children from the Sinhalese and Muslism communities living in Kegalle, launching a series of activities to promote inter-ethnic harmony.

It formed 80 multi-ethnic children’s and youth societies throughout the Kegalle district. They receive conflict transformation education through residential and non-residential training and exchange programmes. Adults of all ethnicities were incorporated into the initiative through joint vocational training programmes.

Aims / Objectives

The initiative aims to promote ethnic cooperation in selected areas of the Kegalle district and achieve peace, coexistence, and development by building inter-ethnic trust and understanding.

Working in the areas of conflict that were selected is important because it helps to break down the ethnic stereotypes and military propaganda that works to keep people separated in order to prolong the conflict in the country at large.
 

How it is Articulated

The ASAD field officers had discussions with different people in the communities – key individuals, children, parents, and the youth – and encouraged them to form multi-ethnic children’s and youth societies. The field officers pointed out the different opportunities for growth and learning available in such a gathering. These groups were provided with residential and non-residential training on conflict transformation and had weekly meetings to discuss their progress.

Activities such as sports events, art festivals, and debates and writing competitions on themes related to peace were organised through the societies to promote inter-ethnic harmony.

The youth groups (Sinhalese and Muslim) went for an exchange program to Trincomalee with a Tamil youth group thereby getting the opportunity to share experience with youths directly affected by the war .

Vocational training was provided in a multi-ethnic environment to the adults - and some interested youths - primarily as a means whereby to incorporate the adults into the process.

Achievements / Learning Points

Muslims and Sinhalese living in Kegalle did not have good relationships with one another and they had difficulty accepting each other’s distinct ethnicity and religious practices. One violent expression of this was the destruction of Mosques in the area in 2000.

As a result of the initiative's drive to promote peace and harmony in the community, the different ethnicities associate together more frequently; they also demonstrate more tolerance towards each other in living and working together . As an indication of this, the violent acts which were rooted in religious or ethnic differences – such as the burning of the mosques – have not been repeated since the initiation of the programme. Further, a two year’s extension of the project is being discussed at present, indicating the positive impact it had upon the community.

Whilst running the project we have realised that people generally change their negative attitudes towards other ethnicities when working closely in multi-ethnic groups. It is very rewarding to see even a minor change happen in people. Even thought the perceivable change is minor, it can be extremely powerful in its impact upon that person and through him or her, upon the entire community. Seeing this gives hope for a major transformation for the better in the country-wide conflict; all it needs is more and more people with the commitment to a peaceful resolution to the conflict.However, it is more difficult to see a change in attitudes of the people whose aim is to profit from the inter-ethnic conflict, through looting and robbing during a riot for instance.

Finally, we saw that capacity building programs aimed at the youth in leadership positions is important. These can include in-depth training in conflict transformation and investigating with them the equality and humanity emphasised in all religions.

Geographical Area of Operation

Kegalle District

Funding Resources

FLICT

Associated Organisations

ASAD and Gemisarana led the initiative together with the support of 17 community based organisations in the Kegalle district.