The Voices of Reconciliation project aims to increase the capacity of civil society organisations to effectively engage in the peace process and strengthen professional media that supports Sri Lanka’s transition to democracy and reconciliation.

Fair, balanced and independent media is essential to good governance, effective public administration and the capacity of Sri Lankans to achieve a negotiated peace settlement and undertake a successful post-tsunami reconstruction program.

A professional media with a responsibility to the public interest, independent of government or partisan influence and interference, is a vital part of the series of checks and balances central to democracy.

The practice of journalism in Sri Lanka faces many challenges.

These challenges are of concern to Sri Lankan citizens but journalists, working together in professional solidarity, by building a culture of independent journalism, have a pivotal role to lead the campaign for media reform.

There needs to develop a strong and democratic public service culture within the news media so that it reflects the richness of society, serves the whole community independent of commercial, partisan or government interests and provides a plurality of voices from across the spectrum of society in Sri Lanka.

At the same time, the project supports civil society organisations working for peace, human rights and conflict resolution in Sri Lanka in support of durable inter-connections between national and provincial media and their CSO counterparts.

This project is made possible by the generous funding from the Canadian International Developmental Agency (CIDA) and Australian Aid (AusAID). The Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS) is our primary partner for the VoR project. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) provide expert input into this project as well.