Symposium on future of Sri Lanka

A Symposium on the future of Sri Lanka and the Federal Idea has been organised by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) with the participation of over 500 delegates of civil society groups from around the island.

The symposium will be held on February 6 at 10.30 a.m. in the main conference hall of the BMICH states a press release from the centre for policy alternatives.

The release:

"Over the past year or so, over 40 NGOs have, with assistance from the Centre for Policy Alternatives, organised a series of workshops in areas where they are located. Leadership for the workshops was provided by leaders of these NGOs who had earlier participated in a series of "training the trainers type" workshops facilitated by CPA.

Basic information about the history of Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict, past attempts at a negotiated settlement, the basic features of devolution of power and federalism, was distributed in the form of booklets in the national languages, and discussed at these workshops.

"A special effort was made to respond to the concerns and fears that many people have about the federal idea.

The objective of the workshop series was to create a wider group of people, from all ethnic groups, that is knowledgeable about the complexities of the island's ethnic conflict and which has a more in depth awareness of federalism and devolution of power.

"The symposium on February 6 will bring the trainers and all the participants from around the island together to review the workshop series and plan for the next phase of the programme on a regional basis.

While the review will take place in the afternoon, we wish to afford the participants, most of whom will be travelling from outside Colombo, the opportunity to hear the views of the main political parties and main actors in the conflict. Simultaneous translation will be provided.