Lankan opinion leaders study devolution of power in India

COLOMBO: A group of public servants, academics and civil society activists from Sri Lanka have returned from New Delhi where they spent three weeks gaining insights in to the Indian experience in power sharing.

The purpose of this experience was for participants to examine multiple models and options for the transformation of the ongoing ethno political conflict in Sri Lanka.

This 'Summer School' programme was conducted by the Centre for Federal Studies (CFS) at the University of Hamdard, New Delhi for 20 public servants, academics and civil society activists from Sri Lanka.

This programme was coordinated for the third consecutive year by the Berghof Foundation for Conflict Studies.

The first week was allocated to an introduction of the state, nation, human rights and federalism. India's federal realities were explored in the second week with a mix of lectures by practitioners, academics and also through field visits to institutions. The third week was devoted to an exploration of other international experiences of power sharing mechanisms and discussions to develop a variety of perspectives for Sri Lanka.

As a follow-up to the course, a recent meeting was held in Sri Lanka for all those who have participated in the CFS Summer School since 2005.

The group plans to form an alumni association in order to build their own network and collaborate with fellow members whilst remaining engaged with issues of power sharing and conflict transformation.

The Berghof Foundation for Conflict Studies was established in Sri Lanka in 2001 by way of an MoU between the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Berghof Foundation in Germany.

It was established with the mandate to enhance and support the capacities for constructive conflict transformation in Sri Lanka.