Sri Lanka

Bar Association of Sri Lanka
Human Rights
$30,000
Raising Awareness about International Human Rights Norms
To enhance the knowledge of Sri Lanka's legal community on international human rights law and norms and to strengthen civil society consensus on policies pertaining to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka will conduct a series of workshops around the country with lawyers, paralegals, and civil society organizations on the basic principles of international human rights standards and Sri Lanka's obligations to uphold those standards. Additionally, the organization will develop a resource guide for legal practitioners and human rights activists and hold civil society seminars on the rule of law, democracy, and human rights.

Center for International Private Enterprise
Accountability
$104,463
Encouraging Democratic Dialogue through Economic Debate
To strengthen new and independent voices in Sri Lanka articulating alternative visions for economic reform and democratic governance and to open space for public-private dialogue on policies that promote inclusive economic growth. CIPE and its partners will develop and disseminate policy analysis and recommendations through a series of publications and events designed to open space for wider dialogue on pressing needs in the areas of economic reform and democratic governance.

Center for Peoples Dialogue
Freedom of Information
$10,000
Training Civil Society Activists in Citizen Journalism
To encourage and support the development of alternative news sources through the training of civil society activists in citizen journalism. The Center for Peoples Dialogue will contribute to ongoing efforts to promote alternative media sources and outlets by conducting 15 trainings on citizen journalism, creating networking opportunities for training participants, and establishing a website to feature their stories.

Centre for Environmental Justice
Rule of Law
$36,000
Citizen Participation in Monitoring Economic Development
To promote good governance and rule of law in Sri Lanka’s development and environmental sectors and strengthen legal protection for communities adversely affected by severe environmental degradation as a result of development programs. The Centre for Environmental Justice will work to ensure that environmental protection laws and procedures are enforced by conducting paralegal training, advocacy, and strategic litigation.

Centre for Policy Alternatives, (Guarantee) Ltd.
Freedom of Information
$50,000
Promoting Freedom of Expression through Citizen Journalism
To share information regarding and spur debate around democratic governance, human rights, and other critical political issues. The Centre for Policy Alternatives will operate Groundviews, one of Sri Lanka’s leading alternative media platforms, which serves as an outlet for activists, bloggers, and journalists to disseminate and discuss issues of democracy and human rights.

Families of the Disappeared
Human Rights
$30,000
Raising Awareness about Disappearances and Human Rights
To raise awareness about the "disappeared," both Tamil and Sinhalese, in Sri Lanka. Families of the Disappeared will commemorate the lives of disappeared citizens and raise awareness of human rights violations experienced in the context of the ethnic conflict and leftist insurrections. The organization will highlight the continuation of disappearances in Sri Lanka, impunity in past cases, and efforts by victims’ families to seek redress.

Home for Human Rights
Accountability
$40,000
Evaluating Local Government Performance
To strengthen the capacity of community-based groups to monitor and assess local government performance and practice in nine districts of Sri Lanka's north, east, and hill country. Home for Human Rights will raise awareness about the role of citizens and elected officials in strengthening governance and conduct a survey on citizen perceptions of local government performance.

Janawaboda Kendraya
Democratic Ideas and Values
$32,800
Increasing Citizen Engagement through Drama and Discussion
To raise awareness and create opportunities for citizens to become more engaged in the political process at the local level. Janawaboda Kendraya will launch a public education effort in eight districts that incorporates street theater, moderated discussion, and leadership development on issues such as democracy, human rights, and good governance in an effort to engage local stakeholders and officials in the political life of their communities.

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
Democratic Ideas and Values
$30,000
Citizen Participation in Local Government Budgeting
To promote a culture of citizen participation in the development of local government budgets. The National Fisheries Solidarity Movement will build the capacity of civic activists to identify the needs and priorities of their communities, engage with local authorities to express concerns and desires, and integrate their requests into the budget development process.

Rights Now - Collective for Democracy
Human Rights
$31,000
Raising Awareness on Human Rights and Democracy
To raise awareness about human rights and civil liberties in Sri Lanka. Rights Now will work with its networks and civil society leaders to facilitate discussion forums on reform issues related to rule of law, good governance, and human rights

Solidarity Center
Freedom of Association
$425,000
Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Trade Unions
To promote the self-sufficiency and sustainability of Sri Lankan trade unions, and to empower union members and worker activists to engage in union decision-making processes. The Solidarity Center (SC) will utilize virtual and traditional communication forums to assist worker activists and mid-level leaders in voicing their ideas to union leadership. The organization will support union partners to educate activists and leaders on basic trade union skills and improve their financial systems.

The International Working Group on Sri Lanka Ltd.
Human Rights
Supplement: $50,000
Seeking Accountability and Reconciliation in Post-War Sri Lanka
To seek accountability and reconciliation in post-war Sri Lanka. The International Working Group on Sri Lanka will coordinate an awareness-raising and advocacy campaign in conjunction with Sri Lankan civil society activists to mobilize international support for human rights and democracy.

The International Working Group on Sri Lanka Ltd.
Human Rights
$15,000
Seeking Accountability and Reconciliation in Post-War Sri Lanka
To seek accountability and reconciliation in post-war Sri Lanka. The International Working Group on Sri Lanka will coordinate an awareness raising and advocacy campaign in conjunction with Sri Lankan civil society activists to mobilize international support for human rights and democracy.

Transparency International Sri Lanka
Accountability
$45,000
Combating Corruption in Sri Lanka’s War Affected Areas
To undertake an anti-corruption awareness program in the war affected areas of the North. Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) will undertake a public awareness campaign about the effects of corruption and available grievance redress mechanisms. In conjunction with youth groups and community based organizations, TISL will offer legal advice, hold seminars and workshops, and advocate for systematic policy change.

Uva Shakthi Foundation
Democratic Ideas and Values
$20,000
Promoting Citizen Participation and Local Government Accountability in Estate Tamil Communities
To promote citizen participation and local government accountability in Sri Lanka's estate Tamil communities. Uva Shakthi Foundation will conduct trainings on human rights and democracy to raise awareness among Indian Origin Tamils working in the estate sector of their roles and responsibilities as citizens and encourage their full participation in Sri Lankan society.

Verite Research Pvt. Ltd.
Accountability
$58,000
Parliamentary Tracking Tool for Accountability and Good Governance
To promote accountability and good governance through the application of a web-based parliamentary tracking tool. Verite Research will refine and maintain an online platform that documents the biographical information and political activities of Members of Parliament and conduct outreach to promote its usage by the media and civil society.

Viluthu, Ltd.
Democratic Ideas and Values
$60,000
Strengthening of Civil Society through Study Circles
To raise awareness, promote freedom of expression, and empower citizens to protect their rights. Viluthu will organize a series of study circles to raise awareness of social, economic, and cultural rights; provide a venue for discussion; and empower participants to take action on issues of concern.

Human Rights
$68,500
Human Rights Documentation
To build the capacity of human rights defenders to document, archive, and analyze human rights violations in pursuit of redress and justice. The organization will provide intensive training to human rights defenders in documentation skills as well as human rights theory, principles, and standards.

Grant descriptions are from the 2014 NED Annual Report.