District Level Reconciliation Committees with representation of inter-religious leaders to address t

Based on the Cabinet Memorandum submitted by President Maithiripala Sirisena in his capacity as Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, the Cabinet of Minister granted approval to establish District Level Reconciliation Committees to address the incidence of inter-religious and inter-ethnic tensions and to promote national integration and reconciliation in all 25 districts. The District Level Reconciliation Committee to be convened by the District Secretary of the relevant District with representation of inter-religious leaders, the Superintendent of Police, retired judges, school principles and other relevant officials as observers,  Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation V. Sivagnanasothy Secretary said.

After the end of the conflict in May 2009, there were isolated pockets of incidents of ethnic, religious, and regional extremism at a very small scale fueled by very few extreme elements. These recent incidents could have been arrested through a proper institutional mechanism.

 The function of the District Level Reconciliation Committee is to undertake study on the background and causes of religious and ethnic tensions in the locality;  formulate suitable strategy and approach to mediate the problems; provide rapid response to resolve conflicts and tensions; invite the  perpetrators and victims and mediate conflict resolution; maintain a database on incidents of tensions and attacks on religious places; mediate, negotiate and resolve conflicts and prevent hate speeches, said Sivagnanasothy. The District Level Reconciliation Committees should resolve problems amicably and where necessary submit recommendations on unresolved matters to the National Reconciliation Committee through the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation. The Cabinet Memorandum also recommend that this mechanism should not in any way disturb the law and order arrangements and rights in the country. The District Level Reconciliation Committee and the proposed institutional mechanism should help address the isolated pockets of incidence of religious and ethnic extremism and help to sustain a durable peace in the country, further said Sivagnanasothy. The Committee should meet on a regular quarterly basis where necessary based on reported incidence, he added.