Colombo, 21 April 2021 – Supporting Effective Dispute Resolution (SEDR) is a four-year access to justice project implemented by the British Council, in partnership with The Asia Foundation (TAF), and funded by the European Union (EU). The EUR 7 million project is part of the EU’s overarching STRIDE (Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation and Inclusive Democratic Engagement) Programme in Sri Lanka.
The project will enhance the availability of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. Such an approach should strengthen dialogue between the people and the authorities, thereby contributing to the resolution of critical underlying causes of conflict and the prevention of escalation of local disputes.
H.E. Denis Chaibi, the Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, said: “I am very pleased to launch the Supporting Effective Dispute Resolution (SEDR) project. Mediation is an important component of local governance. It can be an efficient and more cost-effective way of resolving community disputes. It has the potential to make people more appreciative of the value of compromise, and ultimately it can enhance trust and confidence in justice.” EU ambassador added that “SEDR is part of a larger EU-funded STRIDE programme focused on democratic governance as well as dialogue between communities and local government in Sri Lanka.”
The British Council Sri Lanka’s Country Director, Maarya Rehman said “The British Council is very excited to be leading the delivery of the SEDR project, as it aligns well not only with SDG 16 but also our corporate commitment to contribute to more open and inclusive societies, whilst ensuring youth engagement, gender inclusivity and increased access of marginalised groups to the mediation process.”
Specifically, SEDR will improve dispute resolution for both individual and community-level grievances in the Northern, Eastern, and Uva provinces. It will support local Community Mediation Boards as well as carry out nation-wide public awareness campaigns on mediation. SEDR will promote social cohesion and a more inclusive engagement of communities in local dispute resolution. Part of SEDR’s inclusive approach will be to ensure youth engagement, promote gender inclusivity and increase access of marginalised groups to mediation processes.
SEDR will work in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the Mediation Boards Commission (MBC) and Civil Society partners. Specifically, the project’s activities will directly collaborate with Mediation Training Officers (MTOs), Development Officers-Mediation (DOs), Community Mediators, and Specialised Land Mediators.
The official project launch will take place virtually on Thursday 29 April 2021. More details about SEDR can be found at www.SEDRSriLanka.org and @SEDRSriLanka on Facebook and Twitter.