Viluthu

Conducting a course on specific aspects of journalism is one of the tactics adopted by Viluthu in order to improve quality of the Tamil media institutions. Undergraduates of the University of Colombo, second level staff of mainstream media institutions, and web radio activists are selected to attend this course which deals with mainly issues connected with the responsibility of media personnel in upholding democracy.

Improving women’s access to livelihood opportunities and local services in the Post-Conflict Context of Sri Lanka.

The World Bank has awarded a consultancy to Viluthu in order to improve women’s access to livelihood opportunities and local services in the North and East. This project commenced in November 2010 and is due to be completed in May 2011.

Background to the Consultancy
Decades of conflict have imposed a heavy economic cost in the Northern and Eastern provinces and the poverty situation there is more serious than in other parts of the country. Fighting in the East during 2006-7 resulted in the displacement of about 150,000 people before the Government regained control over the Eastern Province in July 2007. Since then, the situation in the East has gradually stabilized. Almost all IDPs have returned to their homes of origin, and the local economy has been boosted by a sharp increase in paddy production following reclamation of previously un-cultivated paddy fields, and by an easing of security-related fishing restrictions. Elections for the Eastern Provincial Council, which had not taken place previously due to the conflict, were held in May 2008.

Viluthu works with Local Government Institutions and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in providing knowledge and skills to use the tools for Social Accountability. This is accomplished through provision of training, facilitating study circle discussions, and the organizing of consultations between CBOs and LAs, The general awareness raising and the building of political will for delivering a transparent and accountable governance is forged through street theatre performances.

The concept of social accountability underlines both the right and the corresponding responsibility of citizens to expect and ensure that government acts in the best interest of the people. The obligation of government officials to be accountable to citizens derives from notions of citizens' rights, often enshrined in constitutions, and the broader set of human rights. Social Accountability initiatives help citizens understand their civic rights and play a proactive and responsible role in exercising those rights.
Viluthu in partnership with the Asia Foundation, has launched a project by the name “Social Accountability and Transparency’. The purpose of this project is to facilitate the participation of the Local Government and Civil society in order to promote Social Accountability tools to strengthen administrative justice in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka.

Election Fund for Women Contestants

In the struggle by women to increase representation in the local governments , it has been realized that the exorbitant costs of election campaigns have been a major deterrent for them. Lack of financial resource either discourages them from contesting or debilitates them from going all out in their campaigns. In order to overcome this obstacle, Viluthu has introduced a strategy of creating an election fund for women. Read more...