HWPL Peace Education: What Motivated Local Officials in Jaffna, Sri Lanka to Participate Voluntarily?
Hi everyone! Not too long ago, I shared updates about the peace event held in Croatia.
This
time, let’s turn our attention to Asia for a story of real, tangible change
coming straight from Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka.
When we think of peace education, we often associate it with activities carried out by schools or civic organizations.
But what made this case unique was that local administrative leaders and public officials got directly involved.
This all
unfolded at an event hosted by HWPL, an international peace NGO. Let’s dive
into the story behind it!
📢 What the Enrollment of All 45
Village Administrative Leaders Means
On March 9, the 'Jaffna Peace Education Department PET Orientation,' hosted by HWPL, took place at the Chavakachcheri Divisional Secretariat in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
The event
brought together 180 public officials—including the Divisional Secretary and
Deputy Secretary—who oversee local administrative affairs in areas such as
development, social welfare, and rural development.
What stood out most was the response from participants immediately after the orientation.
On the spot, 120 attendees signed up to take the peace education course.
Most
notably, all 45 village-level administrative officers, known as Grama
Niladharis, enrolled in the program.
These Grama Niladhari officials are the backbone of local governance, working hand-in-hand with residents to manage everyday community affairs.
Their full participation shows that HWPL’s peace education is expanding beyond one-time lectures into a more structured and sustainable educational framework.
Through
the local administrative network, the groundwork has been laid for positive
change to spread throughout the community.
💡 Peace Leads to Local Development
* Voices from Local Officials *
The program was conducted in Tamil, and participants remained highly attentive throughout.
This was
because the discussion went beyond abstract theory, focusing on practical ways
to bring stability and growth to their own villages.
* The
Divisional Secretary’s Strong Commitment *
Divisional
Secretary Francis Chandra Satthiyachothy kicked off the event with a
traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, emphasizing how vital it is to expand peace
and development projects across all villages.
She also
expressed a strong willingness to continue cooperating with HWPL.
* A Young
Official's Perspective *
Another noteworthy story came from Ponnamplam Thushanth, a public official who is also pursuing a degree in law.
After
experiencing the program firsthand, he realized how crucial youth involvement
is and now plans to introduce HWPL’s peace education to his fellow law
students.
📝 Moving Beyond One-Off Events and
Into the System
In the international community, one of the biggest hurdles for peace initiatives is sustainability; they often lack continuity.
All too often, once an event wraps up and the hosts leave, things simply revert to the status quo.
From this
perspective, the case in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, presents a practical and effective
model.
It creates a structure where a civil organization's program is adopted by local government bodies and administrative systems, allowing it to run sustainably from within.
If the capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts becomes part of the administrative system, it can positively influence both regional stability and long-term development.
HWPL also
stated that they won't stop at a single event, but will continue to build on
their partnership with the Jaffna region moving forward.
While establishing laws and policies is important, few changes are as powerful as a shift in the mindset and attitudes of public officials who work most closely with local residents.
What do you think about this approach of connecting administrative systems with practical training to support regional peace and stability?
Feel free to share your insights in the comments below! 😉
That’s all for today’s post.
I’ll be
back soon with more interesting news!
📰 Read the full article
🌐 Visit the HWPL Official Website
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