Implementing National Action Plan for Reconciliation is a Need of the Hour

After four years of hard work, investments of millions of rupees in consultations Triple R, Reconciliation unit came up with a comprehensive Nationl Action Plan on Reconciliation in 2004. Yet as a result of the change of Government, this report was never utilized. Now after a war situation it is necessary to implement strong programmes on reconciliation in order to maintain sustainable peace in the country, to address grievances of the persons affected by the war and to bring about justice to the injustice caused during the war time. The report is public property. It is recommended that the Government consider the recommendations and implementation strategy that have been recommended in the report and strengthen the reconciliation process in the country.

Triple R (Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation) project was implemented by the Government, after 2001 elections in order to bring about a negotiated political solution to the conflict. This project was funded by the United Nations Development Programme.

Reconciliation unit of the Triple R project, headed by Maj. Gen. Devinda Kalupahana, the Commissioner of Reconciliation developed a comprehensive National Action Plan on Reconciliation, which was one of the major outcomes of the Triple R project.

Rigorous consultative process was followed and millions of rupees were invested in developing The National Action Plan on Reconciliation. Recommendations were collected from citizens of Sri Lanka through extensive representative consultations in all districts and all segments of society. Then the recommendations were consolidated by four working groups working on operational integration, intellectual integration, social integration and emotional integration. The working groups were coordinated by Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA), International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), Foundation for Co-Existence (FCE) and Marga institute. Afterwards 8 Senior Government Officials worked in developing the action plan.

The Reconciliation Action Plan includes a vision for the country, recommendations on integration and reconciliation and a proposed implementation mechanism. All issues related to reconciliation and all vulnerable groups have been considered in this plan.

As a unitary country, some of the aspects of the proposed vision for the country and proposed operational integration recommendations would not be applicable for the country, because the plan is based on a Federal solution for power sharing. Yet the National Action Plan for Reconciliation gives wealth of rich information that could be utilized in the present reconciliation process.

Report was presented to relevant authorities for consideration several times, yet it was not considered due to political reasons. Hope the relevant authorities will look into this report and utilize it for public benefit as this report is public property.