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A www.cpalanka.org l ternatives No 24/2, 28th Lane - Off Flower Rd, Colombo 7 Sri Lanka Vol 3 Issue 4 (April-June 2006) 04 Pages - Issued Free
“...and Jaffna, need I said-even here, in the Tamil people to know that
The Federal Idea
Challenges and federalism is not about a separate state. It means they have to be part of the Sri Lankan State. We just need to come up with imaginative ways to define the Sri Lankan State to make it more inclusive, and not just a Sinhala majoritarian State.” Rohan Edrisinha,Director,CPA, recounting a dialogue in Jaffna, at the 3-day residential meeting titled “The Federal Idea in Sri Lanka :Challenges and Opportunities,” in Piliyandala from 31st May - 1st June 2006. Co ordinator :Lionel Guruge Photographs : Sisira Kananngara and Buddhika Weerasingha
Dr Nesiah in Vienna.................... .........Pg2
Dr Saravanamuttu in
San Fransisco......Pg2
Mangala Moonesinghe joins Board....Pg 2
Staff Profiles.......................................Pg 2
National Meeting on Public Service
Broadcasting...................................Pg 3
In the Press.........................................Pg 3
Calender of Events.............................Pg 4
Latest Publications.............................Pg 4
Prof Jayantha Seneivirathna, S.G.Punchihewa and Sunila
CPA check
CPA held a cons concerns on Reconstruction The consulta constitutional reconstruction Lanka.
D P (
Abeysekera
As part of its continuing relevance and applicabi Lankan peace and confl organized a 3-day resid Idea in Sri Lanka :Cha Piliyandala from 31 M This meeting follows on Trainer Workshops Pr throughout the country in early 2006.
stock photography of warnings overlaid on C posters 2005 Nov
h t t p : / / w w cmev_20th_May_2006

A ternatives l THE CPA NEWSLETTER
ysekera
The Federal Idea in Sri Lanka: Challenges and Opportunities
part of its continuing work on raising awareness of the vance and applicability of the Federal Idea to the Sri kan peace and conflict transformation process, CPA anized a 3-day residential meeting titled “The Federal
a in Sri Lanka :Challenges and Opportunities,” in andala from 31st May - 1st June 2006. s meeting follows on CPAs successful Training of
iner Workshops Program which facilitated meetings
ughout the country in the latter part of last year and arly 2006.
(>>Page 3)
eneivirathna, and Sunila
Dr P Saravanamuttu and Patrick Vandenbruaene (UNDP)
Lionel Guruge, Project Co ordinator
ck photography of LTTE nings overlaid on CMEV ters 2005 Nov
t p : / / w w w . c p a l a n k a . o r g / ev_20th_May_2006_1st_Release.html
CPA checks RADA Bill...
CPA held a consultation, 16th June, at which it raised concerns on the legislation to establish the Reconstruction and Development Authority (RADA). The consultation covered several legal and constitutional issues as well as their impact on reconstruction and development activities in Sri Lanka.
(>>Page 3)
CMEV monitored the Local Government Elections held 20th May 2006. At the close of polls at 4 p.m. CMEV had received 55 reports of election related violence. Of these, seventeen (17) were categorized as Major incidents. Thirty six (36) were of a minor nature, and consisted primarily of violations of election law. More details available at :

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l A ternatives
April-June 2006
CONTACTING CPA
State Building & I
Overall Coordinator of CPA Units: Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Executive Director
E-mail: cpa_sara@sri.lanka.net
Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) E-mail: cmev@cpalanka.org
Legal Unit Contact Person Rohan Edrisinha
E-mail: cpalegal@diamond.lanka.net
Media Unit Contact Person Sasha Ekanayake E-mail: sasha@cpalanka.org
Peace and Conflict Analysis Unit Contact Person Sriyani Wijesundara E-mail: peace@cpalanka.org
Polling Unit Contact Person Pradeep Peiris E-mail: cpapoll@diamond.lanka.net
Translation Unit Contact Person T.Suresh E-mail: suresh@cpalanka.org Our Address 24/2, 28th Lane, Off Flower Road Colombo 7 Sri Lanka Tel: 94-11-565304-6 Fax: 94-74-714460 Leaving CPA
Dr Devanesan Nesiah, Web
Conflict Resolution fo http://www.cpalanka.org
April .Participants incl email
civil society leaders. Fa cpa@cpalanka.org
Integrative Conflict Tra (IICTP)with leadership resource team included Transcend Internationa Permanent Representative of Austria former International Community Hig Herzogovina , Ms Meeri-Maria Jaarva Finland as well as experts from IICP. A record of the issues, suggestions reference in the CPA library. Other s
Dr Saravanamuttu, E.D. ,CPA, was inv by the Asia Foundation to participate Resource Person on their “Conflicts in A Programme 24th -30th April . He addressed a luncheon meeting organized by the Foundation at its headquarters in San Francisco
Dr Saravanamuttu, ED, CPA, represented CPA on the 1st Steering Committee of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Programme on Capacity Building of Tsunami Affected Local Government Bodies The meeting was held in Vancouver, 19th June, and co-incided with the 3rd World Urban Forum.
Bhavani Fonseka,Senior Researcher, Legal Unit, attended the Regional High Level Meeting on Human Trafficking and HIV organised by UNIFEM and the UNDP Regional Cen Colombo, held in Kathmandu Nepal,22nd -24th May.
Staff Profiles,CPA
Javid Yusuf Director,CPA resigned from the Board , as of 31st May. Namal Perera of Media Unit and Altaf Hussein, Systems Analyst at CPA,since its inception in 1996, took their leave as of June.Namal will be working with the SLPI, and Altaf will be working as a consultant.
New on the Board ... Mangala Moonesinghe
Former Member of Par Lanka to India(2002-2 Kingdom(2000-2002), board of Directors as Barrister at Law (Midd Western State Univers of the National Adviso and a director of Polit Marga Institute.
Bradman Weerakoon, Retired senior advisor to the Sri La Bradman Weerakoon re joined the C as of June 1st. He has the distinction Lankan heads of state and governm spanning across half a century with autobiography “Rendering unto published in 2004
Official Newsquarterly of the Centre

2 quarterly of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Colombo, Sri Lanka
State Devanesan flict Resolution Building Nesiah, for participated Sri & Lankans, Internal at the held Fourth Vienna Conflict... Seminar Austria 2- For 8 il .Participants included political, religious,private sector and l society leaders. Facilitation was by the institute for
grative Conflict Transformation and Peace-building , TP)with leadership from the Austrian Government. The urce team included Prof Johan Galtung, Director of nscend International, Ambassador Dr Wolfgang Petritscn, sentative of Austria to the United Nations in Geneva, and nal Community High Representative in Bosnia and
Meeri-Maria Jaarva , Martin Ahtisaari,Advisor to President of
experts from IICP. ssues, suggestions and recommendations is available for
PA library. Other seminar documents are with Dr Nesiah.
.D. ,CPA, was invited ion to participate as a heir “Conflicts in Asia” 30 h April . He also
s
,Senior Researcher,
ed the Regional ng on Human HIV organised by UNDP Regional Centre
Kathmandu May. files,CPA
on the Board ...
inghe mer Member of Parliament and High Commissioner of Sri ka to India(2002-2005& 1995-2000) and the United gdom(2000-2002), Mangala Moonesinghe joined CPAs rd of Directors as of the 1st June . He qualified as a rrister at Law (Middle Temple, London),has studied at
stern State University, California, USA, and is a member the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation
a director of Political and Institutional Studies at the rga Institute.
koon,
visor to the Sri Lankan Government, on re joined the CPA Board of Directors has the distinction of serving nine Sri state and government in a career
alf a century with the State, and his “Rendering unto Caesar” was
4
Sanjana Hattotuwa, Senior Researcher, Media Unit, attended a roundtable “Dialogue on Sri Lanka” convened by the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS),Ottawa, Cananda, 31st May. He met with representatives of CIDA, DFAIT and other leading Canadian quasi-NGOs & NGOs with active or planned projects in Sri ED, CPA,
Lanka. He presented an overview of the 1st Steering
the political and media landscape in deration of
Sri Lanka with a view to exploring ties’ Programme
ideas to support & strengthen ng of Tsunami
Canada’s involvement in governance vernment Bodies.
and peace building ld in e, and
Sanjana Hattotuwa also made a presentation on Electronic media in Sri Lanka for the South Asia Free Media Association’s (SAFMA) regional Conference on Electronic Media in Karachi, Pakistan, 8th – 12th June.

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A l
ternatives April-June 2006
Official Newsquarterly of the Centre for P
Media Unit
Unit in F
Lionel Guruge, co ordinator Peace Outreach , participated in the SLBC’s Vesak day (12th May) program of
CPA in the Media ...
CPA’s researcher Sriyani Wijeysundara played a lead role in formulation of the draft of the first National Youth Policy for Sri Lanka which was presented to the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs,the Secretary,the chairman of the National Youth Services Council and representatives of youth organizations on 26 March,2006. Following discussions conducted with representatives from youth organisations, working and non-working youth, school children, university students and victimised youth the key issues covered by the policy were identified as education, unemployment, health, crime and violence, alcoholism and drug dependence. Approximately 2000 informal focus group discussions and 2000 informal interviews were conducted island wide to determine key strategies to combat problems in each of these areas.. The draft has been approved by the minister and is to be duly presented to the President.. A National seminar is planned to debate and discuss relevant policy recommendations and alterations. More details at http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/06/02/ news/01.asp
National Meeting on Public Service Media Photos from CPA's 2 Day National Meeting on Public Serv Media, 27th-28th June,which aimed at encouraging deba public service media and the importance of instilling publi values in the local media culture, notably the state owne organisations. Editors and journalists from all sectors of the media, inclu provincial journalists and representatives from civil societ participated.
Mike Dobie, Marc Guber Patricia Holland
(>>Page 1) CPA’s stan through a that this s of the Oslo idea as it Seetha Ranjani, Kurukulasooriya,S Balasooriya & Dha Lankapeli
(>>Page 1 A significa vests bro including p monitorin designatin by natura was the fa place to e such broa and preju The repor www.cpal RADA.pdf, the consu www.cpal
“Subharathi” speaking on the topic of “Buddhism and Federalism”
Dr. Deva Raheem Pesalai a prevailing released b among ot 20060709
Reports of Kebettigol assess the Displaced website, o

3 rterly of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Colombo, Sri Lanka
ational eeting
Unit in Focus
ervice Media
in the dia ...
ed a
(>>Page 1) CPA’s stand that the conflict can only be ended through a negotiated constitutional settlement and that this settlement will have to be an elaboration of the Oslo Communique incorporating the federal idea as it basis, was reiterated.
sed e
s
mine hese
d is al ant
/
ting on Public Service t encouraging debate on
e of instilling public service bly the state owned media
of the media, including es from civil society
particpants
Ranjani, Uvindu kulasooriya,Sanath oriya & Dharmasiri peli
Uvindu Kurukulasooriya,Christopher Warren, Dharmasiri Lankapeli, Sanath Balasooriya.
ing on dhism
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Bhavani Fonseka and Mirak Raheem representating CPA,travelled to Mannar, Pesalai and Talaimannar on June 28, to assess the prevailing situation there. The report subsequently released by the team was flagged by the Sunday Leader among other media, at http://www.thesundayleader.lk/ 20060709/focus.htm#Report
Reports of the previous Fact Finding missions Kebettigollawa and Undappuwa on 18th June, to assess the situation faced by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are available at the CPA website, or on request.
(>>Page 1) RADA Bill... A significant feature of the draft RADA bill is that it vests broad powers with the President and RADA, including powers over land acquisition, controlling and monitoring foreign and local organization as well as designating areas to be classified as being affected by natural or man made disasters. Of grave concern was the fact that there are no checks and balances in place to ensure that the relevant actors do not abuse such broad powers which could be used in an arbitrary and prejudicial manner. The report of the consultation is available at www.cpalanka.org/research_papers/Report_ RADA.pdf, and a press release made available following the consultation can be downloaded from http:// www.cpalanka.org/Press_Release_RADA.html,

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A l
ternatives April-June 2006
Official Newsquarterly of the Centre for P
C
alender of Events
For more updates on latest and upcoming CPA
events, visit http://www.cpalanka.org/calendar_events.html
May 31st May - 1st June 2006Three day residential meeting “The Federal Idea in Sri Lanka :Challenges and Opportunities,” in Piliyandala.
CMEV monitored the Local Government Elections held 20th May
June 16th,Consultation, raising concerns on the legislation to establish the Reconstruction and Development Authority (RADA), covering several legal and constitutional issues as well as impacting future reconstruction and development activities in Sri Lanka.
,27th-28th,Two day National Meeting on the Public Service Media aiming at encouraging debate on public service media and flagging the importance of instilling public service values in the local media culture
EVENTS ATTENDED
2nd - 8th April, Dr Devanesan Nesiah, consultant, Peace Unit, CPA , participated at the Fourth Seminar For Conflict Resolution for Sri Lankans, held Vienna Austria.
24th -30th April .Dr Saravanamuttu, E.D,CPA, was invited by the Asia Foundation to participate as a Resource Person on their “Conflicts in Asia” Programme, Washington DC and San Fransisco, USA.
22nd -24th May.Bhavani Fonseka, Senior Researcher, Legal Unit, attended the Regional High Level Meeting on Human Trafficking and HIV organised by UNIFEM and the UNDP Regional Centre Colombo, held in Kathmandu Nepal.
31st May, Sanjana Hattotuwa, Senior Researcher, Media Unit, attended a roundtable “Dialogue on Sri Lanka” convened by the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS),Ottawa, Cananda.
19th June,Dr Saravanamuttu represented CPA on the 1st Steering Committee of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Programme on Capacity Building of Tsunami Affected Local Government Bodies. The meeting was held in Vancouve and co-incided with the 3rd World Urban Forum.
8th – 12th June, Sanjana Hattotuwa made a presentation on Electronic media in Sri Lanka for the South Asia Free Media Association’s (SAFMA) regional Conference on Electronic Media in Karachi, Pakistan. This free newsletter is published by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, No
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4 terly of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Newsletter Design and Compilation by Chandrika Gadiewasam chandrika@cpalanka.org (Contents of this newsletter may be reproduced and/or re-published with due accreditation to CPA)
“Stigma & Discrimination of Media Monitor May-
People Living With June
HIV/AIDs” report available tri-lingually.
available tri-lingually and in softcopy.
"Madhya Boomikawa" a newsletter on Suicide Sensitive Jouranalism
"SAMA VIMARSHI"
“IFJ Code of Ethics for Journalists"
Media Serving the PCI May 2006 available tri-lingually and in softcopy.
Public ” Booklet on Public Service Broadcasting- available tri-lingually and in softcopy.