(Mrs) Padma D. Jayaweera's Page

What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?

My contry Sri Lanka has been confronted with a protracted ethnic conflict for more than three decades.Being serving as the Commissioner of Official Languages and an Advisor (National Integration) for the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs & National Integration for four years , I axctively got involved in conflict resolution exercises. In addition I have done a research on "Language as a Tool of Reconciliation & Ethnic Harmony" which was published in 2008.
At present , Sri Lanka government has liberated 90% percent terrorist controlled areas and implementing reh
abilitating programmes with high priority to establish peace and harmony.There fore Peace & Conflict Resolution have become very important for the benefit of the entire country.

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

I was a senior member of SRI LANKA ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE. Having completed 35 years of executive service for the Sri Lanka government , retired in 2004.After the retirement , Sri Lanka government appointed me as an Advisor (National Integration) for the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs & National Integration for which i served until August 31,2008.. In addition , I have been appointed as the CHAIRPERSON of the National Co-operative Employees Commission which is a quazi-judicial body deals with employer-employee conflicts in the co-operative sector.
I have been a researcher in the social science field and published sevaral research studiea.
Academically, I have acquired:
M.A. in Social Science9Development Studies)-Flinders Universityof South Australia
PG Diploma in Social Science from the same university.
Pg Diploma in Conflict Resolution & Peace Prparedness from the Bradford University, U.K.
Diploma in Human Rights-Sri Lanka Institute of Human Rights
Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Ceylon

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise

Australia, Japan, Malasia, USSR, Malasia, Sweeden, South Korea, Denmark, U.K.India and Sri Lanka

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

Sri Lanka

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

Chairperson, National Co-operative Employees Commission of Sri Lanka

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://conflict resolution and peace

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Conflict Resolution, Democratization, Development, Social Entreprenuership

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Advocacy, Capacity Building, Communication, Program Administration, Program Implemenation, Research, Training

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

Conflict Resolution, National Integration, Poverty Alleviation, Small Farmer Economic Development and Co-operative Development

If appropriate feel free to list several of your (or your organization's) publications

(1) Language as a Tool of Reconciliation & Ethnic Harmony
(2) The Role of Co-operatives in Poverty Alleviation
(3) Agricultural Co-operatives & Small Farmer Economic Development
(4) Young Women's Involvement In Thrift & Credit Co-operatives