Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Since 2015, WFD has strengthened democratic processes in Sri Lanka by building transparent and accountable institutions, improving institutional trust, and supporting women, youth, the LGBT+ community, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Image
A participant reading WFD Sri Lanka's report
Caption
A participant reviews WFD Sri Lanka's report, An Exploration of Inclusion Gaps: A Qualitative Assessment of the Health and Transport Sectors.

WFD adopts an inclusive, cross-party approach to parliamentary strengthening, focusing on underrepresented groups, especially women. Collaborating with the Parliamentary Women's Caucus, the Speaker's Office, parliamentary committees, and political parties, WFD offers adaptive technical support to diverse stakeholders amid political uncertainty.

Our programmes aim to foster inclusive politics, accountable systems, the protection of freedoms, and pluralist societies. Enhanced inclusion stems from relationship building and information sharing between political actors and civil society. Incentivised political actors and collaborative civil society organisations (CSOs) contribute to better policymaking, establishing long-term progress. WFD’s problem-driven programming addresses core issues, assisting parliamentary stakeholders, political parties, civil society, and electoral systems in delivering meaningful societal outcomes.

Political context

In the past decades, Sri Lanka has developed parliamentary practices which aim to strengthen parliament and safeguard the independence of commissions. In this evolving political environment, parliament has a key role to play to secure these ambitions. Through our programmes, WFD has engaged with key parliamentary stakeholders as they seek to develop and embed parliamentary practices that will contribute to strengthened oversight and scrutiny of the executive and provide more avenues for inclusive political participation. 

Key areas of work

Strengthening the capacity of parliament and parliamentary committees

WFD provides technical assistance to parliamentary stakeholders to strengthen the effectiveness of oversight and legislative scrutiny, improve the management of public finances, and enhance participatory legislative practices. Additionally, WFD supports programmes for new members and Presiding Officers, sharing UK expertise on the Westminster model of parliamentary practice. 

Restoring political and institutional trust and building inclusive economic policy reforms

With the creation of the Coalition for Inclusive Impact (CII), WFD supports evidence-based policymaking using participatory research methods to advance the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the policy space and economic reforms process. 

Advancing equality and inclusion of LGBT+ persons

WFD engages with political and civils society representatives to facilitate and advance political engagement around inclusion of LGBT+ persons, creates knowledge tools for awareness raising, and supports legislative and policy reforms to improve lives of LGBT+ persons. 

Strengthening inclusive election processes

WFD supports the Election Commission of Sri Lanka with implementing campaign finance reforms and regulating election expenditure to ensure accountability and a level playing field for political participation. 

Current programmes

Global LGBT+ Programme

Under the Global LGBT+ Programme, WFD Sri Lanka focuses on strengthening democratic institutions and practices to promote LGBT+ equality. The programme supports political decision makers and civic actors in working towards a more inclusive policy and legal framework for LGBT+ equality in Sri Lanka. It also supports the implementation of laws and policies and continues to work towards the decriminalisation process. WFD Sri Lanka is working on establishing the 'Inclusion Champion' model to facilitate inclusive policymaking and collaborations between political actors and civil society for the advancement of LGBT+ rights. 

Status
Underway
7
Start date
Planned end date

Indo-Pacific Governance Fund

This programme aims to build strategic engagements with parliamentary stakeholders following the 2024 General Elections and strengthen Parliament’s ability to further anti-corruption and transparency reforms. WFD is supporting workshops for the newly elected members in collaboration with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK, focusing on providing technical support to the Women’s Parliamentarians Caucus, finance oversight committees, and the Open Parliament Caucus. 

Status
Underway
1
Start date
Planned end date

Strengthening democratic resilience in Sri Lanka

Under this programme WFD will provide continued support to the Coalition for Inclusive Impact (CII) and the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL). WFD will continue its efforts with ECSL to promote progressive electoral reforms including campaign finance reforms and will provide technical support to the CII on establishing long-term links with the Parliament for legislative support. 

Status
Underway
2
Start date
Planned end date

Completed programmes

Supporting a gender responsive and inclusive parliament

Status
Completed
10

Integrated Security Fund

Status
Completed
10

Supporting the Parliament to strengthen oversight and legislative processes and rule

Status
Completed
10

Supporting political parties to be consultative and representative

Status
Completed
10

Supporting National Audit Office officials in forensic audit training

Status
Completed
10

Key results

Amid the 2022-2023 political and economic crisis, established an Economic Inclusion Working Group (EIWG), now an independent entity called the Coalition for Inclusive Impact (CII). The group evaluates policies for inclusive economic recovery and engages diverse communities. 

c

Connected civil society groups and lawmakers to advocate for inclusive policy reforms, capacity-building efforts and research.

""

Facilitated an island-wide LGBT+ activist network, connecting grassroots communities and organisations, strategising together for decriminalising same-sex intimacy in Sri Lanka.

Icon of hands holding together in circular path

Engaged with the parliament to strengthen inclusivity and accountability from a gender and human rights perspective.

training_1

Organised an executive course on post-legislative scrutiny (PLS) for three selected MPs, who advocated for the incorporation of PLS processes into Sri Lanka's parliamentary system, leading to the formation of a committee on PLS.  

Collaborated with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) and other stakeholders to support democratic processes and uphold electoral integrity. The formal partnership enables further support during upcoming elections, with the aim of strengthening accountability and transparency in campaign finance. 

Latest news

Contact us

Colombo District
Sri Lanka