In Sri Lanka the military’s victory over The Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in 2009 marked the end of 26 years of conflict. In the last phase of the war Norway worked to alleviate sufferings of the civilians and encouraged the parties to comply with the international law.

The history of cooperation between Norway and Sri Lanka dates back to 1967 when Norway first started supporting development projects. Norway’s former role as a facilitator in the peace process between the government and The Tamil Tigers made Norway well-known in Sri Lanka but it has also led to criticism of Norway.

The phasing out of long-term aid has started; but Norway has so far continued with transitional support to the war-torn areas in the north and the east. A lot of reconstruction is yet to be done and there is still a difficult humanitarian situation in some places.

Many are still living in camps for the internally displaced or with their relatives. One of the major challenges is how and where people living in the camps will be settled. Negotiations involving different ethnic groups will be decisive in reaching reconciliation and contributing to lasting peace in Sri Lanka. Despite the challenges after the war years, the middle income Sri Lanka will probably be able to achieve most of the UN’s millennium goals.

Peace and Reconciliation

After almost 30 years of violent conflict the relationship between the different population groups in Sri Lanka is still characterised by distrust. For Norway the most important task is to contribute to national reconciliation and a political solution that also looks after the minorities. The aid reflects this, particularly through cooperation with local rights organisations and media institutions.

Examples of results and measures in 2011:

• Sarvodaya, a local organisation, has provided civil rights education to 7277 village leaders
• They have organised dialogue between 571 religious leaders in 12 districts
• 93 youth have participated in exchange programmes between different districts for promoting ethnic integration and reconciliation
• With Norwegian support, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has provided assistance to 330 former LTTE cadres for reintegration into the society after being released from the authorities’ rehabilitation centres
• Sewalanka, a local organisation, has educated 1349 village leaders and 185 youth in sustainable development and cooperation across ethnic divisions. The programme is represented in all districts of the country
• 104 community organisations have been able to strengthen their capacity to carry out work through the project

Reconstruction

Through five landmine clearance organisations, Norway has contributed in 2011 to enable more than 13 000 families to return to their homes. Over 2000 hectare of agricultural land has been cleared of landmines to ensure that those who have returned home can start farming and supporting themselves. In addition seven schools and nine temples and churches have reopened in 2011. A local organisation, Social Economic and Environment Developers, has used Norwegian aid to help build 100 houses so that the same number of families can return home.

Norway provides support to UNDP’s programme for resettling in the north. Here are some of the results from 2011:

• 40 houses completed
• construction of 10 houses was commenced for a total of  228 returning internal migrants
• 218 persons have received aid for starting vocational activities
• 83 received training
• Wells have also been built in order to support agriculture
• Several childcare centres and community houses are under construction

Sewa Lanka has contributed for strengthening knowledge of administration among women’s organisations so that they can more easily lead development projects in local communities

• 240 women have received training which has enabled them to increase their family incomes
• 90 women have received training for leading micro-companies in order to improve productivity and earnings
• 20 agricultural organisations have improved their know-how for establishing cooperatives to run commercial agricultural production
• 50 hectares of seed grain were produced during the last season in the project area

Three vocational training centres have also been renovated with Norway’s aid. In addition 5600 farmers have been able to return to their home towns. It was possible as they were given help to re-establish through distribution of seed grain, enabling them to start farming again. 2250 hectares have been cultivated again thanks to this measure.

Good Governance

Norway’s work against corruption is carried out through agencies like Transparency International (TI). In 2011 an exhibition was held which showed examples of anti-corruption work in three provinces. The message reached 4500 people. Education on anti-corruption and integrity for public servants was also provided in three districts. Special radio programmes have also been produced by TI to bring god governance in the public eye. Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), which runs basic and further education of journalists, receives aid from Norway.

Here are some of the results from 2011:

• 60 journalists were educated at diploma level
• 40 started working within three months of completing their education
• 169 journalists received further education
• 131 journalists in the districts received training
• SLPI launched a press club in 2011 to establish a meeting and discussion forum for  journalists

The Norwegian Embassy also supports Media Resources and Training Centre (MRTC) which runs journalist education under the University of Jaffna. 68 students have completed diploma education at MRTC during the past three years. Around 50 per cent have gotten jobs in the media business after completing their education.

Education

To improve the quality of vocational training is an important target. Norwegian aid in 2011 has helped two institutions gain approval from the government for vocational training. Other initiatives and results follow below:

• 78 new vocational training modules have been developed in 2011
• 2195 persons have received training since the project started
• 62 per cent of those who received training started paid work later

Gender Equality and Women’s rights

The organisation Women in Need works with legal counselling for women. It offers practical help and teaches judges, police and the health system how violence against women develops and how it can be prevented

• Legal aid was given in 5800 cases in 2011
• 327 women received protection through transitional accommodation at crisis centres for women
• Around 40 000 women who were victims of violence received counselling through this programme

Women’s Network for Political Participation works to make women engage in politics. In 2011 the number of women nominated in local elections was higher in the districts where this programme is run. One of the results was that 70 women were nominated from political parties compared with 25 nominees in 2006.  Sinhala Tamil Rural Women’s Network, which consists of Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslim women, was financed by Norway.

• 178 households led by women have received help to start their own businesses and to create their own income
• 815 persons have received micro-credits
• The network is actively working to prevent violence and a 12 per cent decline in violence against women has been registered in the project area. There has been an increase of 40 per cent in the number of women who have received legal or other counselling during the past year.

Culture

During 2011 the Norwegian Embassy, in collaboration with local partners, has completed a number of cultural projects. Aim: To promote understanding and reconciliation through cooperation between the ethnic groups in Sri Lanka and to contribute for development of art and cultural expression

• Music collaboration directed by Concerts Norway has been very popular and receives a lot of visitors
• Norwegian music groups held four concerts, eleven school concerts and participated in five seminars which reached out to a total of 7700 persons
• Music groups from Sri Lanka had 30 school concerts which reached out to 6000 persons
• A folk music festival in Jaffna had over 13 000 visitors