OfERR regards the Ceylon refugees in India as an important party in the Sri Lankan peace process, and we have supported the growing participation of our community in the quest for peace. For years the refugees have endorsed a fair and peaceful resolution to the conflict, and have appealed to both sides in this regard. Since 2003 these appeals have included formal statements produced by the refugee community: the Nallayan, Chennai and Trichy Declarations. These documents spell out the position of the majority of refugees on the need for peace and the processes required to achieve this end.

OfERR identified the increasing desire and need among refugees at camp level for a better understanding of the complexities of the peace process and the role that they could play in transforming the situation. OfERR worked with experts in conflict transformation to deliver a training course for 60 volunteers, held in May 2007. Mr. Malcolm Rogers (CA) and Professor Gladstone of Loyola College were instrumental in this process. A series of workshops was conducted covering the nature of conflict and reasons for it, how to identify problems, and methods for transforming conflict. The issue of conflict was dealt with at individual, family, community and national levels. A training manual was produced by our experts to provide guidance for the 60 participants who would become our new generation of trainers. These individuals are now in the process of disseminating ideas and information to people in the camps. This is done primarily through seminars held with camp-based organisations such as student forums and self-help groups (SHGs).  

In the past year, 164 peace-building workshops and training programmes have been conducted at camp and district level with over 3,000 participants, the majority being women. The people involved have applied their new ideas not only to influencing events in Sri Lanka, but also to managing and resolving disputes in and around the camps.

World Peace Day is now widely celebrated in the camps; campaigns, prayers and lighted candles demonstrate the people’s commitment to peace and a harmonious future for all communities. Furthermore, Ceylon refugees have collaborated to deliver a letter to the Sri Lankan President, calling for a permanent end to conflict on the island.