Case Studies

Chrysalis introduced and strengthened Town Hall forums in the Northern Province as a pioneering rights-based governance platform under the TRANSFORM project. These meetings bring government officers, civil society, and community members together to openly discuss local issues and find immediate solutions, especially for marginalized groups. Senior government officials praised the model for creating meaningful dialogue, improving participation, and connecting diverse actors even during the pandemic. The initiative has inspired district-level Town Hall meetings in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi, promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive decision-making across the province.

Tanisha Pathmanathan from Vavuniya is an emerging activist dedicated to advancing women’s political participation. Despite personal hardship and the challenges of war, she built a resilient life while raising her children alone. Through the TRANSFORM and BRIDGE projects, Tanisha gained confidence, leadership skills, and a strong voice in public forums. Today, as Secretary of the Vavuniya Civil Society Forum, she actively promotes gender equality, leads community initiatives such as the Annai Theresa Women’s Society Trust, and uses her strengthened connections with local authorities to advocate for women-headed households and inclusive governance.

At 26, activist and journalist Marlin Venuja Enosan is emerging as a powerful voice for gender equality, youth leadership, and community rights in Jaffna. Through her work with Uthayan, her long-standing volunteer role with “Save a Life,” and her active participation in Chrysalis-supported BRIDGE and TRANSFORM initiatives, she advocates for dignified menstruation, safer public infrastructure, and inclusive local governance. Confident that women and youth will increasingly shape Sri Lanka’s future, Venuja continues to champion underrepresented groups and use media as a tool for accountability and change.

When a collapsed canal system threatened the livelihoods of 44 farmers in Diwulwewa, the Parakum Farmers Organisation took bold action to restore their lifeline. With support from the Building Resilience Project, they rebuilt the damaged canal, reducing water distribution time from four days to just two hours and easing long-standing conflicts. The restored system enabled reliable cultivation across seasons, improved water management, and strengthened climate resilience. It also opened new income streams, from blue manel flower sales to fish trade and livestock watering, transforming the community’s agricultural and economic future.

Living in Kooba Nagar with her husband and four children, 33-year-old K.F. Anfasiya faces daily struggles shaped by poverty, unstable income, and limited access to education. Her husband’s irregular work often leaves the family without enough food, especially during rainy seasons. Removed from government assistance despite their ongoing hardships, the family has long navigated hunger and financial uncertainty alone. Through support from Chrysalis, Anfasiya now receives monthly nutrient packs that help her feed her children, save small amounts for essentials, and ease her health challenges. Her story reflects the resilience of women in marginalized communities and the critical role of support systems in breaking cycles of poverty.

Shermila Dilrukshi from Kandathoduwa faces immense challenges caring for her 10-year-old son with severe disabilities while managing a household dependent on her husband’s irregular labor income. Rainy seasons and medical expenses for her son often push the family into hunger and financial strain. With support from Chrysalis through monthly nutrient packs, Shermila can now meet her family’s basic nutritional needs and redirect limited resources toward sustainable income through farming. Her story highlights the struggles of families balancing disability care, unstable income, and survival, and underscores the impact of targeted support in creating resilience.

Shakeela, 51, from Mullaitivu, endured the loss of family members during the final war, life-changing injuries, and years of social exclusion due to her disability. Isolated from her community and struggling to maintain livelihoods, she faced discrimination that limited her opportunities. Through Chrysalis’s TRANSFORM project, Shakeela was included in a gender-transformative scoping activity, ensuring her voice was represented among 300 women leaders. Now selected as a journalist in her district, she participates in project activities to advocate for human rights and social inclusion, regaining hope and a platform to address issues affecting marginalized communities.

Nisansala Ranasinghe, Secretary of the Buddhi Jayantha Farmers Association, witnessed her community’s paddy farming disrupted when torrential rains destroyed culverts and roads, leaving farmers stranded and forcing them to carry heavy loads manually. The disaster threatened their main livelihood for multiple seasons, and local authorities lacked funds to repair the damage. With support from Chrysalis and CARE Australia, the damaged culverts and road were restored, allowing the farmers to resume normal cultivation. Nisansala and her community now enjoy renewed hope and stability, grateful for the timely intervention that saved their livelihoods.

In Karukapane, a traditional fishing village in Puttalam, the Saubhagya Dry Fish Production Society supports 106 fishers in producing high-quality sun-dried fish. Before support, limited access to essential tools restricted monthly production and profits. In November 2023, Chrysalis provided 25 fishers with drying racks, gunny bags, polythene sheets, and baskets, doubling their monthly output from 600 kg to 1,200 kg and increasing net profits from Rs. 48,000 to Rs. 96,000. The initiative also created 25 new jobs, strengthening the local economy and improving livelihoods for fishers and their families.

The Saubhagya Inland Fish Production Society in Kottukachchiya, led by W. Lalith Sagara, faced declining fish populations that threatened the livelihoods of 42 small-scale fishermen. With government funding and support from Chrysalis, the society upgraded fish-hatching and growing facilities, added new breeding tanks, and purchased additional nets. These improvements doubled daily incomes from Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 9,000 and enabled the society to sell fingerlings to the Fisheries Department, generating an annual net profit of over Rs. 1.1 million. This initiative strengthened the society’s sustainability and reduced dependence on external aid.

After COVID-19 and Sri Lanka’s economic crisis devastated her manioc chip business, Ishani Sevwandi from Weeralanda, Arachchikattuwa, faced unemployment while her husband sought work abroad. With guidance and financial support from Chrysalis, she attended business and technical training, developed a business plan, and received a grant of Rs. 200,000 to restart her venture. Today, Ishani runs her home-based chip business, earning around Rs. 70,000 per month, with plans to scale up production and diversify into other fried snacks, regaining financial independence and hope for the future.

Udari, a young mother from Bangadeniya, turned economic hardship into opportunity by starting a home-based pudding business in 2021. With Chrysalis’ support and a Rs. 200,000 grant in 2023, she purchased modern cooking equipment, increasing her weekly production from 50 to 400 cups, selling to 15 shops, and earning Rs. 12,000 profit per week. Food hygiene training further strengthened her skills, and she now plans to expand her business to cater for weddings and large events.

Menuka Dilshani, a pregnant mother of two from Kokichankulam, faced severe food insecurity due to her husband Jeewan’s unpredictable casual labor income and frequent flooding of their land. With support from Chrysalis through a nutrition pack sponsored by Global Buddhist Relief, the family met their immediate nutritional needs and invested saved funds in coconut plants and long beans, creating a sustainable source of food and income. This assistance empowered them to build resilience and hope for a more secure future.

Background 

Under the BRIDGE Project, Nila supported district-level delivery of ICT and social media literacy sessions across Jaffna, Vavuniya, and Mannar. As a youth trainer trained through the ICT literacy TOT, she brought a practical, mobile-first approach that helped women leaders strengthen everyday digital work - from producing formal documents to communicating safely in public spaces.

The challenge
Women leaders were active in community work but faced high digital risks and uneven access to support. Common gaps included weak account security, uncertainty in handling sensitive information, and reliance on others for typing, formatting, or posting, which reduced privacy, slowed response, and increased errors.

Nila’s dedication to women’s leadership

Mentoring approach that made learning stick

1) Pre-session mentoring - readiness and confidence

Before sessions, Nila checked in with women leaders to reduce anxiety and ensure they were prepared to practice: device storage, updates, essential apps, and simple readiness tips. This pre-support helped participants arrive confident and on time.

2) In-session mentoring - hands-on, one-to-one coaching

During delivery, she moved continuously between participants, providing quiet one-to-one guidance, especially for those who hesitated to speak in front of others. She used micro-practice cycles (5-10 minutes) and peer-pairing until each participant could complete key tasks independently.

3) Post-session mentoring - applying skills to real work

After sessions, Nila remained reachable for follow-up and reinforced practice with the purpose: drafting letters and meeting notes, converting to PDF, correcting file naming, sharing documents safely, and verifying content before posting. This mentoring bridged the gap between classroom learning and day-to-day leadership responsibilities.

“Now my phone is my strongest tool for safe communication and advocacy.”

Results observed across three districts

·        Increased independence: women leaders produced and shared formal documents via mobile without relying on external typing support.

·        Safer online practice: improved password habits, stronger account protection, and better awareness of privacy and consent.

·        Higher confidence: women participated more actively, asked questions openly, and demonstrated readiness to lead district follow-up actions.

·        Improved credibility: participants practised evidence handling and verification routines before sharing public content.

Nila’s story highlights a key implementation insight: facilitation builds exposure, but mentoring builds capability. Her consistent support helped translate ICT training into safer, credible, and sustained leadership practice in Jaffna, Vavuniya, and Mannar.

In the lush village of Maliduwa, bordering Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, a quiet transformation is unfolding one that blends deep-rooted tradition with modern principles of sustainability, inclusion, and resilience. At its heart lies Maliduwa Kithul, a rural enterprise founded by Mr. Wijaya, which has grown from a humble family operation into a nationally recognized producer of kithul treacle and jaggery.                                                                

What sets Maliduwa Kithul apart is not only its commitment to preserving an ancient craft, but its bold, values-driven approach to building a diverse, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable business. With timely support from Chrysalis and GIZ under the FICE (Fostering Inclusive Communities and Economies) project, the enterprise has strengthened its infrastructure, capacity, and community impact emerging as a compelling model for rural development through green entrepreneurship.

A Heritage Industry Reinvented

Kithul tapping is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest food traditions, yet few modern enterprises have succeeded in preserving its authenticity while making it economically viable. Mr. Wijaya, who grew up in a household of kithul tappers, returned to the craft after leaving behind unsatisfying formal jobs. Guided by his mother and driven by curiosity, he began experimenting with treacle production, soon realising the complex science behind each tree, flower, and boil.

From these early learnings, a business was born. Today, with over 240 smallholder suppliers, Maliduwa Kithul has established a diverse, trust-based supply chain rooted in rural knowledge and ecological responsibility. Many of these suppliers, both men and women, depend on kithul as a core source of income, making the enterprise a vital anchor for community livelihoods.

One of the most distinctive features of Maliduwa Kithul is its diverse and inclusive customer base, both nationally and internationally. By connecting rural producers with modern, ethical commerce, Maliduwa Kithul demonstrates how tradition can thrive within inclusive and sustainable market practices. Furthermore, the strength of its value chain has created significant income opportunities for smallholders.

Strategic Support from Chrysalis/GIZ: A Turning Point

He had no prior idea about forming a joint business, but through the FICE-supported joint venture mechanism, he found inspiration. In collaboration with Kokulam Products from Mannar, in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The joint venture has already yielded several unique product innovations, bringing together the strengths of both kithul and palmyrah. By blending tradition with modern enterprise, the collaboration between Mr. Wijaya and Mr. Gokulapalan not only diversifies market offerings for sweet lovers in Sri Lanka and beyond but also sets the foundation for a new chapter in harmony and peaceful coexistence.

Sustainability is also embedded in its operations. With support from Chrysalis FICE and GIZ, the enterprise adopted new technology that ensure food safety, improve hygiene, and increase processing efficiency as well as administration.

“Along with my staff, I openly worked together with FICE experts to determine the proper bookkeeping practice and correct previous errors and adopt the practice immediately after the training”

Preserving Tradition through Fair Commercialization and Community Respect

While often underrepresented in traditional industries, women from the majority of Maliduwa Kithul’s sap processors. Assisting men’s since at dawn to collect sap and boiling treacle throughout the day, these women safeguard a craft that is both physically demanding and technically precise. Yet, despite their central role, many remain invisible in formal statistics. Previously, Wijaya never considered the position of women in supplying an uninterrupted flow. According to FICE project inputs, he has shaped his vision to ensure active participation and benefits to the women throughout the supply chain.

Youth engagement has also emerged as a strategic priority. In villages grappling with high levels of youth unemployment, the enterprise has launched outreach efforts to showcase the economic potential of kithul tapping.

“This gives me hope that the industry will not just survive but thrive into a viable and sustainable industry for the future.”

Through the FICE project’s business awareness and capacity-building support, Mr. Wijaya has been able to expand his enterprise with a focus of ensuring that both tradition and innovation move forward hand in hand.

Praise and Value to the lives and Environment

As Sri Lanka’s economic crisis deepened in recent years, rising gas prices forced many small producers to scale down or close operations. Maliduwa Kithul, however, chose a path of innovation. The enterprise constructed a firewood boiler system fuelled by discarded tea stems and other non-commercial wood (never freshly cut trees) to power treacle boiling. This system also doubles as a heat source for spice dehydration, reducing energy waste and promoting circular production.

Maliduwa Kithul’s inclusive business model not only guarantees fair compensation for suppliers but also prioritises their safety. Recognising the risks of the industry, the enterprise routinely replaces climbing ropes, traditionally made of biodegradable coir, since many smallholders cannot afford replacements, and worn ropes have caused fatal accidents in the past.

“This is a life-risking operation, and I have witnessed many such cases in my lifetime. For this reason, I am going to introduce safety measures, as well as a life insurance scheme starting with the high-volume vendors who provide over 30 kg per month.”

Looking Ahead: A Scalable, Sustainable Vision

Maliduwa Kithul is more than a rural business it is a living case study of how indigenous knowledge, inclusive supply chains, and environmentally responsible practices can converge to create impactful, future-oriented enterprises. With strategic partnerships, ethical leadership, and a commitment to community, the enterprise continues to thrive, proving that sustainability, when built on inclusion and innovation, can be both practical and transformative.

In the heart of Puttalam, a district known for its rich diversity of cultures and traditions, women have always worked quietly behind the scenes, tending paddy fields, helping with family fishing, or managing household tasks that often go unrecognized. Their labour has been vital yet rarely counted as entrepreneurship. Today, only 25–30 percent of businesses in Sri Lanka are led by women, and in communities like Puttalam, cultural expectations and limited opportunities make the number even smaller. It is within this landscape that Nooha’s story begins.

At first glance, MAS Premium Products may appear to be just a small snack business. Yet behind its signature chickpea-based cocktail mixture lies something far greater a story of transformation, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive market participation. Nooha’s venture reflects how strengthening women-led enterprises can contribute to resilient livelihoods, promote gender equality, and create pathways for sustainable community growth.

Restarting After Adversity: A Resilient Entrepreneur’s Journey

Originally operated as a partnership, MAS Premium Products ran for seven years before being forced to pause operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in November 2022, with newfound knowledge and confidence, Nooha resumed operations from a new rented location, this time as the sole proprietor of a revitalized and reimagined business.

Her re-entry into entrepreneurship marked a transformation. This shift was catalysed by her selection into the Chrysalis FICE programme, funded by GIZ and the EU, which she discovered through the local Women Entrepreneurs’ Network and her Divisional Secretariat. While many applied for the opportunity, Nooha was the only woman entrepreneur selected from her area, an achievement that inspired her to aim higher and redefine her enterprise.

From Informal to Professional: Transforming Through Capacity building

Before joining the FICE project, Nooha’s business operated informally. Profits and expenses were tracked mentally or noted in scattered pages, packaging was done by hand, and work schedules shifted depending on daily demands. The training she received from the project, reshaped this approach, giving her the confidence and skills to move from survival-mode operations to a structured, growth-oriented enterprise.

 She introduced methodical bookkeeping, combining digital tools with traditional recordkeeping. For the first time, she began accurately assessing profits, factoring in raw material and labour costs, and making financial decisions with clarity. The grant support enabled her to purchase a packing sealer and mixing machine, shifting from slow manual work to efficient semi-automated processes.

“I was running this business in a very small space and on a small scale. The support I gained from the FICE project has been a giant step forward for my business.”

This shift strengthened her resilience as an entrepreneur and opened pathways to more stable growth. It also signalled a broader transformation: Nooha was no longer running just a small snack venture, but leading a professional, women-led enterprise that could compete in mainstream markets, create opportunities for others, and inspire women in her community to reimagine what was possible.

 Inclusive Employment and Community Empowerment

MAS Premium Products is now a source of livelihood and dignity for six individuals, four women and two men, from Nooha’s village. Many of them come from vulnerable backgrounds, including widows, single mothers, and those navigating domestic or financial hardship. Every employee is trained in-house and cross-skilled to manage multiple tasks, creating a workplace where everyone contributes to the smooth flow of operations.

Nooha has also reimagined how staff are rewarded. Shifting to weekly salary payments, an idea inspired by the FICE project trainings she undertook, has had an immediate impact. Employees feel more motivated, as the system allows them to better balance their household needs while enjoying their earnings with dignity and independence. What may seem like a small adjustment has, in reality, strengthened trust, improved morale, and reinforced the sense of belonging within her growing business.

“It’s not only me—several lives now depend on my business. There is no turning back, we move forward together with a fresh mindset and an optimistic view of our future.”

A Gendered Business Model Rooted in Community

As a woman entrepreneur, Nooha understands the systemic and cultural challenges faced by other women in Puttalam. She is an active member of the local women entrepreneurs’ network and participates in bimonthly exhibitions held at the Municipal Council Hall, where businesses showcase their products to a multi-ethnic consumer-base.

Her journey has positioned her as a role model in the community, demonstrating what is possible when women claim space in entrepreneurship. She not only grows her own business but also uplifts those around her. One employee, encouraged by Nooha’s guidance, has launched a side venture producing homemade chilli powder. She is now a regular supplier for MAS Premium Products’ signature snack mixture. Such ripple effects show how Nooha’s approach nurtures both individual empowerment and collective economic growth.

Valuing and Praising Responsible Business Practices

Over time, and with the assistance of the FICE project, MAS Premium Products became standardized. Nooha now pays close attention to every detail in the operation. She has clearly identified her niche market and the unique features that help her reach it effectively.

Nooha has also chosen not to diversify into multiple products but to focus on scaling up her current offering. Her goal is to increase monthly profits from the current LKR 30,000–40,000 to LKR 100,000 by growing distribution and strengthening her presence through exhibitions and social media, particularly her Facebook page (MAS) and WhatsApp promotions.

“We are all women in the production process, and we put our utmost effort into delivering the best products, just as a mother prepares snacks for her children”

 Leadership, Impact, and the Road Ahead

Her journey, from restarting a paused business to becoming the sole proprietor of a growing SME, reflects resilience, strategic learning, and inclusive leadership. Supported by her husband, who assists with deliveries, and by her family in every way, she balances an operation during the day while managing her enterprise with dedication, precision, and determination.

Her transformation through the Chrysalis FICE project is evident, having strengthened her financial literacy, employee management, gender-sensitive practices, food safety, and environmental stewardship. Beyond profitability, her business demonstrates how small enterprises can serve as engines of social and economic inclusion, creating opportunities for marginalized individuals, fostering community collaboration, and inspiring others, especially women, to envision and pursue entrepreneurship.

“I used to think small, Now I understand how to think like a businesswoman.”

In the coastal district of Mannar, opportunities for stable livelihoods are scarce. Far removed from the country’s commercial capital, Mannar consistently ranks among Sri Lanka’s lower-development districts, shaped by decades of poverty, conflict, and displacement. It represents just 1% of the national population, with the majority living in rural areas where unemployment and informal employment remain high.

Mannar’s history adds another layer of complexity. Once a frontline of the civil conflict, the district is home mainly to Tamil and Muslim communities, with lingering fault lines that occasionally ripple beyond its borders. Several incidents in Mannar over the past decade have sparked tensions in the south, underscoring the district’s fragility as a potential trigger point for conflict.

Mannar is a place known more for fishing and agriculture than fashion, yet a small team of entrepreneurs is quietly sewing together a new narrative: one of resilience, inclusion, and innovation. Pandora Garments, a business founded by Somasundaram Prathapan and seven colleagues, has grown from humble beginnings into a promising venture specialising in sportswear manufacturing.

“We started with almost no knowledge, we had to learn everything about machines and overall business, along the way.”

A breakthrough came when Pandora Garments was introduced to the Chrysalis FICE programme through government officials of Mannar district. Following a structured selection process, the company qualified for technical training and grant support under the Chrysalis FICE programme, funded by GIZ and the EU. This support proved pivotal offering both the resources and the guidance to transform Pandora from a struggling start-up into a business with clear direction, strengthened capacity, and renewed confidence in its future.

Learning the Value of Diversity and Inclusion

vital learning that emerged through the FICE programme was the importance of embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into the very fabric of the business. For Pandora Garments, located in a district where Tamils and Muslims form the majority, this is not simply a corporate choice but a social necessity.

The company’s workforce mirrors Mannar’s ethnic makeup, with young men and women from both Tamil and Muslim communities working side by side. Although all eight directors are men, the leadership has firmly recognised that long-term sustainability depends on embracing differences, ensuring women’s access to stable employment, valuing the perspectives of youth, and fostering cross-community trust.

Inclusiveness and gender equality were not a management issue in Pandora Garments before. It simply hired and trained people to perform specific tasks. However, with the broader vision imparted by the FICE project, their attitude has changed. They now realize their broader role in helping to address development issues in the district.

“This inclusivity is not only essential for our business, but for the social progress of Mannar”

This marks an important first step in converting unskilled labour into skilled employment, an especially significant contribution in Mannar, where precarious and informal work remains high. By employing and upskilling young women, Pandora is activating their economic participation and contributing to wider empowerment, creating ripple effects across families and communities.

As the business matures, progressive measures introduced through the knowledge gained from the FICE programme have further strengthened staff retention and welfare. New hires are confirmed as permanent after six months, bonuses are paid when possible, and during difficult times directors even stepped in to cover salaries. These practices have offered employees a rare sense of stability and security in an otherwise uncertain labour market.

Investing in People and Machines for Sustainable Growth

One of the most significant recent milestones for Pandora Garments was the acquisition of a LKR 1.9 million heat transfer machine, a major investment partially funded through a matching grant from the FICE programme. The team had diligently saved half the cost themselves, and Chrysalis’s support enabled them to bring this much-needed equipment on board sooner than anticipated.

The machine has already become a symbol of the company’s future. Once in use, it will allow Pandora to significantly boost production capacity, reduce reliance on outsourcing, and expand its product range to include digitally printed garments and branded accessories such as caps. From a current output of 10–15 items per day, the company aims to scale up to 50 items daily and hire at least five additional employees.

There were a few challenges that had to be addressed in making the transition from small-scale to medium-level business. The support of the FICE project in developing administrative capacity has undoubtedly assisted Pandora Garments in overcoming the challenges and charting a clear future course of action with a well-defined long-term plan.

“We see ourselves growing to a team of 50 over the next few years but we want that growth to be meaningful for our people, for our community. and for the environment.”

A Remarkable Initiative to Uplift Lives and Promote Peaceful Coexistence

Pandora Garments stands at a pivotal point in its journey, not only as a growing enterprise but as a catalyst for inclusive and peaceful development in Mannar. With guidance and support from the FICE programme, the company has strengthened social cohesion, improved living standards, and fostered resilience among youth. By providing stable, skilled employment for women and young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, Pandora directly addresses negative employment indicators in the district while empowering communities economically.

Through inclusive hiring and workforce development, the company nurtures a generation of young employees capable of facing challenges in tense situations and bridging divides across different ethnicities and cultures. Pandora’s initiatives show that business success can go hand in hand with community transformation: improving livelihoods, encouraging collaboration between different ethnic groups, and promoting understanding and trust.

“We’re not just making clothes, we’re building futures for our staff, for our district, and for ourselves.”

In doing so, Pandora Garments exemplifies how an enterprise, supported through training, mentoring, and grant assistance, can contribute meaningfully to a cohesive business ecosystem, inclusive growth, and peaceful coexistence, achieving impact far beyond traditional economic metrics.

In the quiet hills of Matale, central Sri Lanka, verdant landscapes of spice gardens, paddy fields, and small-scale agriculture define the local economy. The district is a tapestry of ethnic and religious diversity, with communities coexisting across rural villages and plantation estates. Despite this rich cultural and natural wealth, many young people in Matale face limited opportunities, often entering the workforce unskilled due to low enrolment and retention rates in primary education among both boys and girls. According to the UNDP Multidimensional Vulnerabilities Impact Report, these educational gaps contribute to fragile livelihoods, high levels of unemployment, and the prevalence of precarious informal employment. Against this backdrop of untapped potential and economic vulnerability, small enterprises have the power to transform local communities by creating meaningful work, building skills, and fostering inclusive growth.

Venasa Caterers stands as one such example, where vision and perseverance meet opportunity. A humble kitchen that blossomed into a vibrant model of inclusive, sustainable enterprise. Venasa Caterers, founded by Sugath Udagedara in 2018 and formally registered in 2019, is more than a catering service. It embodies resilience, compassionate leadership, and community driven growth deeply rooted in Sri Lankan culture. Today, Venasa Caterers serves nearly every major government institution in the Matale district, from the Divisional Secretariat, Police, and Zonal Education Offices to diplomatic events, handling up to 90% of local government food orders. This remarkable growth, achieved through word-of-mouth alone, reflects not only the quality of the service but also Sugath’s commitment to creating opportunities for local people. He mastered every aspect of the business on the job, from using cutlery and serving diplomats to plating and managing large-scale events, demonstrating a steep learning curve guided by humility, adaptability, and a vision for inclusive, community-centred enterprise.

Catalyst for Change: Venasa Caterers’ Journey of Inclusion and Sustainability with FICE

Sugath first learned of the Chrysalis FICE programme through the Divisional Secretariat. With its support, Venasa Caterers received essential catering equipment buffet sets, steamers, and other tools—that immediately elevated both operations and professional presentation.

“These tools elevated our service and we can now cater with efficiency, maintain hygiene, and meet demand with confidence.”

Beyond equipment, the FICE project also opened new perspectives through training. The insights he gained proved transformative. He began to see his enterprise not only as a livelihood but also as a platform for youth empowerment, inclusion, and social coexistence. By integrating better business planning and sustainable practices, Venasa Caterers evolved into more than a service provider. It became a vehicle for inclusive growth, shaping opportunities for others while strengthening community bonds.

An Inclusive Employment Model

At the heart of Venasa Caterers’ success is its deeply inclusive employment model one that directly reflects the values reinforced through the FICE project. Sugath recruits across ethnic, age, and gender lines, ensuring that his workforce mirrors Sri Lanka’s rich diversity. Older workers, often displaced or unemployed, are engaged in packaging and preparation; young people, many from marginalized estate-sector communities, are hired for service roles. To support them, Sugath provides accommodation, uniforms, and meals, creating a “family-like environment” where Sinhala and Tamil, men and women, youth and elderly, work side by side.

“Our business needs both young and older employees, and I believe everyone here truly deserves their place. I can see that the young boys especially are enjoying their work.”

Through FICE mentoring, Sugath began to view his enterprise not only as a business but also as a social ecosystem. He introduced measures that strengthen inclusion and wellbeing: a uniform system that instils pride, and a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol or drug abuse that promotes safety and professionalism. Once plagued by high turnover, Venasa Caterers now retains a loyal core team, with some members serving for over four years a rare achievement in the catering sector.

While lack of capital has slowed construction of a purpose-built catering facility and the recruitment of additional staff, FICE insights have helped Sugath develop strategies to expand inclusivity. He is actively creating opportunities for part-time female staff in client-interaction roles, recognizing both the confidence it instils in young women and the positive image it projects for the business.

“It boosts our image, and gives young women the confidence to shine in front of large crowds,”

On the management side, training through FICE project encouraged him to adopt structured practices, such as outsourcing administrative tasks like EPF/ETF contributions, tax filing, and auditing to professionals, freeing his time for operations and growth. He has also begun applying small but impactful learnings from FICE mentoring sessions, including improved quality monitoring systems, more transparent financial practices, and strategic approaches to scaling. These incremental but deliberate changes reflect the transformative influence of the project, equipping entrepreneurs not only with tools but with the mindset to embed inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience into every layer of their businesses.

A Small Business Championing Progressive and Inclusive Measures

Sugath envisions a purpose-built, eco-conscious catering facility that generates employment, responds to community needs, and sets a standard for sustainable business practices. He already has the land, the plan, and the vision. What remains is the capital to bring it to life.

With continued support from programmes like the Chrysalis FICE initiative, as well as new strategic partnerships, Venasa Caterers has the potential to serve as a national model of how small enterprises can scale while staying rooted in equity, culture, and care. The next phase of growth will allow Sugath to embed practices that strengthen green innovations, expand inclusive hiring, and deepen workplace systems that ensure dignity, fairness, and opportunity.

By maintaining diversity, equality, and inclusion as guiding principles, Venasa Caterers exemplifies how responsible business can drive both social impact and sustainable economic p

Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, long celebrated for its cultural diversity and resilience, is home to Kattankudy, one of the most densely populated towns in the region. With tightly packed houses, narrow winding lanes, and bustling bazaars, Kattankudy thrives on small, family-run businesses and informal trade networks that keep the town alive well into the evening. In this dynamic environment, YNF Baby, a micro-enterprise specializing in pillows and baby bedding, is quietly transforming household comfort while promoting inclusive business practices, resilience, and innovation. Spearheaded by Ali Althaf Ahamad a young entrepreneur determined to create dignified work and affordable, high-quality products.

Today, YNF Baby produces over 20 varieties of products, ranging from baby mattresses to custom-designed items for people of all ages, with an unwavering commitment to quality that has earned the trust of a growing customer base. Word of mouth has helped build a network of 25 wholesale buyers across diverse communities, including Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim clients, reflecting the brand’s broad appeal. Althaf regularly sets up stalls at local religious and cultural festivals, not only within Muslim communities but also near temples and churches during festival period, using these informal marketplaces to gain crucial visibility and connect directly with retail customers who may not access online platforms.

Enter Chrysalis FICE: Training and Technological Inputs that Uplift the Overall Business

Althaf joined the FICE (Fostering Inclusive Communities Economies) Project, implemented by Chrysalis in partnership with GIZ and the European Union. Through this initiative, he received comprehensive training in accounting, marketing, and long- term business planning skills that transformed his approach to entrepreneurship.

But it wasn’t just knowledge that made the difference. With Chrysalis’ financial grant, YNF Baby acquired a vacuum packaging machine a game changer! Where previously one pillow filled a unit of space, now three (03) can be vacuum-packed into the same volume. This improvement tripled storage capacity and cut transport costs by more than two-thirds, allowing him to reach more buyers without increasing overheads.

“Earlier, we couldn’t compete with imported products that came vacuum-packed, Now we can match their quality.”

The machine also contributes to sustainability goals. YNF Baby switched from PP polythene (which required 3 kg to pack 100 pillows) to LDPE polythene, which only needs 1 kg for the same quantity. This change cuts plastic usage by over 60%, aligns with circular economy principles, and reduces waste handed over to municipal services.

A Business Shaped by Inclusivity and Adaptability

What distinguishes YNF Baby is its quiet commitment to inclusive employment and a flexible work culture. Most employees are from the local Muslim-majority community, YNF Baby welcomes all who are willing to learn and contribute. The working environment reflects the needs of its people. Some staff choose weekly wages, while others prefer monthly payments. Start times are adjusted for those with household responsibilities.

“They have families, other commitments. I let them choose what works best,”

This flexible system not only improves retention and satisfaction but also allows women and caregivers to take on paid work in ways that fit their home responsibilities, which is an important yet often overlooked support for women’s economic participation in traditional or caregiving- heavy settings.

From Local Producer to Market Innovator

The vacuum machine gave YNF Baby something few local producers have: a technological edge. In the entire Kattankudy area, only this business owns such a machine, creating a clear competitive advantage. Most Sri Lankan manufacturers still don’t use vacuum packaging, putting YNF ahead of the curve in both efficiency and professionalism.

But for Althaf, this is only the foundation for what’s next. He’s developing a new product: a nursing pillow tailored for pregnant and postnatal mothers. This addition not only meets an unmet market need but strengthens the business’s alignment with care-centred, women- focused design.

Meanwhile, Chrysalis FICE helped build a detailed five-year business plan, identifying market gaps and setting the foundation for expansion, certification (including ISO-level standards), and possible new hires. As production scales up, YNF plans to recruit three to four more full time staff. These new positions will create meaningful employment in Kattankudy, providing opportunities for youth and women who have historically had limited access to formal work. By combining innovation, structured planning, and inclusive hiring, YNF Baby has strengthened its operational resilience, broadened its market reach, and established a model of sustainable, community-embedded growth.

“Earlier, I underestimated the contribution of women in the business. Through the FICE project, I realized how their contribution is important especially in the production of baby items that embody softness, care, and quality.”

A Personal Transformation, A Broader Impact on the Nearby Community and Business Landscape

With the support of the FICE project, Althaf’s journey has been as much about personal transformation as business growth. Once focused solely on marketing, he has evolved into a confident entrepreneur who now manages everything from administration and marketing to staff training and development. Today, YNF Baby reflects the values fostered through FICE—inclusion, gender equity, environmental sustainability, and meaningful transformation. It is a business built on flexibility and respect, with space for both innovation and care, firmly rooted in local culture yet ambitiously aligned with national and global standards.

“They gave me not just a machine, but the mindset to build something bigger,” he says, reflecting on his experience with Chrysalis.

The Challenge

Access to water is the lifeline of farming communities. For decades, the Thambilawinna Farmers’ Organization in the Monaragala District, Uva Province struggled with deteriorating irrigation systems that limited their ability to cultivate during both Yala and Maha seasons. Thanks to the joint efforts of the farmers, the Department of Agrarian Development Services, and Chrysalis— with support from the with the support from Hilton foundation funded – Support Communities to Ensure Food Security and Build their Resilience project. —this challenge has now been addressed, bringing hope to over 75 farming families.

 During the 2025 Yala season, farmers faced a serious issue: the Molada sluice gate’s inner structure had collapsed due to erosion, making it difficult to regulate water flow. While water was released from the sluice gate, it did not flow properly through the canal, resulting in waterlogging in some areas and scarcity in others. At the same time, the main canal in Thambilawinna, damaged in several places for more than 50 years, continued to waste precious water through leakages and blockages. Over 60 acres of farmland and 75 farmers, including 15 key farmers, were directly affected. Cultivation became uncertain, and family’s dependent on paddy and crop farming were placed under increasing stress.

 The Intervention

Recognizing the urgency, Chrysalis, together with Monaragala District Department of Agrarian Development Service, visited the site. Farmers highlighted the areas in critical need of repair— especially the Molada sluice gate and damaged canal sections. With financial support from Chrysalis and the Hilton foundation funded – Support Communities to Ensure Food Security and Build their Resilience project, and technical expertise from the Department of Agrarian Services, renovation work was launched. Despite the challenge of beginning work mid-Yala season and the tight deadline of just 15 days, farmers contributed their full participation and labour to complete the project on time.

The Results

·        Sluice Gate Repair: The collapsed structure was rebuilt, enabling smoother water release and distribution across paddy fields.

·        Canal Renovation: Concreting key sections of the canal prevented leakage, improved water flow, and ensured better utilization.

·        Improved Water Access: Around 75 farmers—including 60 paddy farming families—can now access water without blockages.

·        Sustainable Cultivation: With reduced water wastage, farmers are now able to cultivate successfully in both Yala and Maha seasons.

Farmer’s Voices

Secretary Mr G. Nimal Jayaweera shared: "Although we faced difficulties completing the work during cultivation, with Chrysalis’ support we finished the renovation by the end of the Yala season. Now, unlike previous years, we expect proper water release for both 2025 and 2026 Maha seasons."

The Secretary of the Organization Mr V. Senevirathna added: "This canal serves 60 paddy farming families and nearby cultivators. With your intervention, the farmers now have reliable water access. We thank Chrysalis, the Hilton Hotel project, and the Agrarian Services Department for their guidance and contribution."

"Thanks to the technical officer who guided us, we knew exactly how to repair the canal without losing time or money. His advice made the work much easier." — Mr C. Nishshanka – Field officer, Department of Agrarian Development Service

Looking Ahead

The successful completion of this project has renewed farmers’ confidence. With restored water systems, communities in Thambilawinna are now better equipped to face future cultivation seasons. Farmers also urge continued support to address similar irrigation challenges in other areas, ensuring more communities can benefit from sustainable water management.

The Problem: A Path Full of Struggles

“Only one person could walk at a time. We carried inputs on our backs. Cattle couldn’t pass, and if someone slipped, there was no way to pull them up.

- Iyathurai Paskaran

In the remote village of Pansenai, nestled in the heart of Batticaloa, farmers lived in quiet hardship. While their fields were rich with potential, reaching them was a daily battle. With no proper access road, farmers from the Othiyankuda-aru Farming Society had to traverse narrow, muddy paths, often flooded during the rainy season.

“Only one person could walk at a time,” says Iyathurai Paskaran, President of the Pansenai Farmers Organization.

The situation wasn't just a burden for adults. Over 30 children from farming families had to walk this same path to reach school, often barefoot and soaked during the monsoons.

“Sometimes, kids had to be carried through the floodwater,” adds Baaskaran. “It wasn’t safe, but we had no choice.”

Without road access, farmers couldn’t bring their harvests out easily, losing time, energy, and market value. The lack of access to machinery or emergency transport only added to the risks.

The lack of road access affected every part of their lives:

·        Difficult transportation of seeds, tools, and harvest

·        Poor access to education for children

·        Inaccessibility during rains and floods

 The Turning Point: A Road to Opportunity

When Chrysalis reached the community, many were skeptical. The villagers had seen organisations visit before—asking questions but leaving without follow-up.

“They always came, took notes, and left,” says Sinnathamby Sureshkumar, Secretary of the Farmers Organization. “We didn’t expect anything different.”

But Chrysalis returned; not with surveys, but with a plan. In collaboration with the community, they initiated the construction of a dedicated agro- road, carefully designed to serve the real needs of the farmers.

 Key Benefits of the Agro-Road:

·        Access to fields

Before: By foot, narrow unsafe trail

After: Bikes, tractors, cattle carts

·        Harvest transport

Before: Delays, crop damage

After: Timely, efficient, increased income

·        School access

Before: Risky, seasonal absenteeism

After: Regular and safe attendance

·        Flood vulnerability

Before: High – path submerged

After: Flood-resilient design, year-round use

·        Safety from elephants

Before: Frequent encounters

After: Safer travel via clear path

Beyond Roads: A Path to Resilience

The agro-road’s impact extends beyond agriculture. It has restored dignity to a community that felt cut off and unheard. Women farmers now travel safely. Inputs arrive on time. Produce reaches market while fresh. And most importantly, the community now feels seen and supported.

“This road gave us more than access. It gave us a voice, and the belief that development is possible for people like us”

Seven-year-old Sarukshan stood nervously at the doorway, holding tightly to the strap of his new school bag. His uniform was a bit loose, his shoes too stiff. He looked up at his mother. "Amma... I'm going to school today, no?". For most children, this would be an ordinary moment. For Sarukshan, it was a turning point—his very first day of school.

Born into a family struggling to survive in a fragile shelter on unlicensed land in Nanuoya, Sarukshan had never been to school. His father, Selvakumar, worked in Kandy as a daily wage contractor. His mother, Sathyavani, uneducated and overwhelmed, didn’t know that her children had a right to education, or how to apply. The costs of uniforms, shoes, and supplies were simply out of reach.

They belong to the Malayaha Tamil community, descendants of estate workers brought to Sri Lanka during colonial times. Generations later, many still face chronic poverty, lack of land rights, poor infrastructure, and limited access to government services. In such communities, children like Sarukshan often fall through the cracks—out of school, unnoticed, and forgotten.

In 2023, Sarukshan’s story changed when local authorities identified his case through a community outreach initiative supported by Chrysalis. Recognizing the urgency, a coordinated effort between the District Secretariat, Grama Niladhari officers, and the Zonal Education Department helped enroll him in Navalar Tamil Primary School.

But this wasn’t just about paperwork. Sarukshan received a full set of school supplies—uniforms, shoes, a backpack, books, and stationery. More importantly, his parents were included in awareness sessions to understand education rights and how to support their children.

On his first day, Sarukshan walked to school alone—the school was nearby, and for the first time, he belonged. Within days, he began reciting rhymes to anyone who would listen. "I want to be a police officer," he says now, proudly.

His transformation inspired his mother too. "We didn't know we had this right," she says. "We thought it was too late. Now, our other children will go to school too".

But challenges remain. One of his younger siblings was found to be underweight—a common issue in these underserved communities. The family has since been referred to clinical support, another crucial step toward long-term well-being.

Sarukshan’s story is one of many in the estate sector, where children are still denied opportunities due to poverty, lack of awareness, and systemic neglect. It’s also a story of what’s possible—when someone listens, when systems reach the unreached, and when families are empowered.

Today, Sarukshan walks proudly to school with a bounce in his step. His shoes still squeak, but he doesn’t mind. Each step is a small victory—for him, for his family, and for a community slowly finding its voice. And it all began with someone saying, "You matter".

In the farming lands of Damana, Ampara, water has always been the deciding factor between a successful harvest and empty fields. For months, however, the farmers here struggled with a broken culvert that prevented water from reaching their paddy lands.

"Now the water flows freely, and for the first time in years, we feel confident about both Yala and Maha seasons".

The temporary sandbags placed in the channels only made matters worse—when upstream gates were opened, downstream fields ran dry; when downstream got water, the upstream remained parched . Yala season cultivation became nearly impossible, and Maha season yields were limited. Farmers grew desperate, often gathering in groups to manually remove sandbags just to let a trickle of water flow.

When Chrysalis entered the scene, the results were immediate and striking. Water now flows smoothly across the entire tract, reaching even the farthest fields without obstruction. Farmers no longer waste hours battling sandbags—they now have the security of steady irrigation.

"This project has been a 200% success," says Mr. K.L.A.R.S Kodithuwakku, Chairman of the Farmer Organization, with pride. "Now we can cultivate in both Yala and Maha seasons, and more land than before has access to water".

For the people of Damana, this was not just the repair of a culvert. It was the restoration of hope, dignity, and livelihood. Thanks to the Field officer of Agrarian Development Service and Chrysalis, the water has returned to the fields—and with it, the promise of a stronger harvest and a better future.

When our local Agricultural Officer first spoke to us about a home gardening project by Chrysalis, we weren’t sure what to expect. For years, we had dreamed of cultivating a small but productive garden at home, but limited knowledge and resources always held us back. The idea of turning our backyard into something meaningful felt distant until this project entered our lives.

It all began with an application form; we applied from Nuwara Eliya District, Kothmale DS Division, Kadadora village/area. It was followed by a visit by an officer from Chrysalis. She walked through our small plot, listened patiently to our plans, and assured us that with the right guidance, our dream could take root. True to her word, she gave us not just instructions but hope, laying the foundation for what would soon become more than just a garden.

Over the weeks, we participated in nearly ten training sessions. These weren't just lessons—they were eye-opening experiences. We learned how to prepare a home garden from scratch, propagate plants, apply fertilizers wisely, and manage pests without harming the soil. For the first time, we were shown how to make our own fertilizers and pesticides—both organic and chemical—and we realized how self-reliant we could become.

One of the most memorable parts of the journey was our visit to the Ganoruwa Agricultural Institute. Standing among fellow learners and guided by experts, we discovered the art of seed selection and plant propagation. It was more than technical training—it was inspiration.

Slowly but surely, our garden came alive. What once was an empty patch of soil now blossomed with vegetables and fruits. Each seed we planted carried a lesson, and every harvest became a story of growth. The fresh produce not only supported our meals but also generated an additional income for our family.

This transformation was made possible through Chrysalis’ support—providing agricultural inputs such as plants, equipment, and tools, along with technical and practical training and exposure visits that strengthened our knowledge and confidence.

But the true impact went beyond financial gains. Working in the garden gave us something priceless—peace of mind. Each hour spent among the plants reduced stress and brought joy. Tending to our crops, watching them flourish under our care, felt like therapy for the soul.

Today, we take pride in knowing that we can minimize expenses on expensive chemicals by using natural solutions like garlic and neem. This not only protects our health but also keeps our soil fertile for the future.

What began as a small initiative has transformed our lives in ways we never imagined. Home gardening has not just increased our income—it has improved our well-being, connected us with nature, and filled our home with both nourishment and happiness. Thanks to Chrysalis, what once was just a backyard is now a garden of hope, resilience, and growth.

For as long as he can remember, Nahamuthu Loganathan from Umaiyalpuram has been a farmer. From his childhood, farming wasn’t just work—it was life. On his land, he cultivated vegetables like moringa, capsicum, chillies, and tomatoes.

But behind the green fields lay challenges that weighed heavily on him. The biggest struggle was labor. "I used to hire more people to work on the farm," Loganathan recalls. "But the charges were high, and it was becoming difficult to manage". The cost of labor cut deep into his earnings, leaving little room for savings or growth.

That’s when support from Chrysalis changed the rhythm of his farming. The organization provided him with a tiller—a machine that reduced hours of backbreaking work into quick, efficient tasks. "Now, the only cost I have is for fuel," Loganathan says with relief . What once required hiring several workers can now be done in a fraction of the time.

But the tiller was only part of the transformation. Alongside, Loganathan received training on good farming practices—how to use fertilizers wisely, how to manage soil health, and how to tackle crop diseases without losing yields. These lessons gave him confidence and skills that extended beyond a single season.

Today, Loganathan’s farm looks different—not only in the vegetables it grows, but in the energy and hope it carries. With reduced expenses, healthier crops, and the knowledge to face challenges head-on, he sees farming not as a struggle, but as a future worth investing in. "Farming has been my life since I was small," Loganathan says, smiling. "Now, with these tools and training, it feels like I can farm with strength and hope again".

For years, Farzan Abdul Raazik from Ampara worked in the pharmaceutical sector. Day after day, he saw patients returning with chronic illnesses, many of them struggling with complications like diabetes. Even with treatment, he noticed, too many people were still losing limbs from unhealed wounds.

"I realized that medicine alone wasn't enough," Farzan recalls. "The root cause was also in the food we consume. There was a gap between food and medicine".

This realization marked the beginning of a new journey which started in 2019. Farzan turned to organic food, determined to explore how what we eat could prevent disease rather than just treat it. He began studying natural farming, and soon discovered the forgotten treasure of Sri Lanka’s indigenous seeds.

But the path was difficult. Organic farming, unlike conventional methods, gave him lower yields. Many around him questioned his decision. Yet Farzan remained determined.

"Sri Lanka once had so many indigenous rice varieties, rich in nutrition and fibre," he explains. "But with hybrid seeds and chemical fertilizers, we lost much of that heritage. The white rice we eat today spikes glucose levels, while traditional varieties like Batapola el rice keep them low”.

His efforts soon bore fruit. Farzan and his team began producing Batapola el rice, which has been tested and identified as a variety with low glucose content—making it healthier for people with diabetes and those seeking better nutrition.

Still, he faced challenges in scaling his work. Drying and preserving organic produce was time-consuming and inefficient, as he relied on the sun. That was when Chrysalis stepped in—at just the right moment. Recognizing his vision and potential, they selected Farzan for their program and provided intensive training.

"We had three days of expert-led workshops on developing business plans, writing proposals, and planning strategically," he says. "Chrysalis stayed in regular contact, guiding us as we shaped the business".

With their support, Farzan also received a dehydrator and a steamer—an innovation that transformed his operations. What once took hours under the sun could now be done efficiently and hygienically. This opened up new opportunities, and he created his own brand called "Batapola Brown" rice.

"We were able to dehydrate rice products, as well as string hoppers, manioc, carrot, and potatoes," Farzan explains. "Now, we can preserve our products longer, add value, and even explore export markets".

For Farzan, the journey from pharmaceuticals to farming was never just about business. It was about healing people in a different way—through food. His work with organic farming and indigenous seeds is not only helping restore a lost heritage but also offering healthier alternatives to communities battling lifestyle diseases.

"I started because I wanted to see fewer patients suffering," he reflects. "Now, every grain of rice, every product we make, is part of that mission".

In Ampara, Farzan’s fields and products carry a message: food can be medicine, too—and with the right support, it can nourish both people and livelihoods. This initiative not only strengthens his sustainable farming practices but also helps him contribute to a more self-reliant and resilient Sri Lankan economy.

Meaningful community participation is the foundation of responsive and accountable local governance. In Jaffna's Nallur Pradesha Sabha, one elected woman leader is transforming this principle into lasting institutional practice. Through her leadership and advocacy, Kowsala Siva has successfully championed the formal adoption of a Town Hall model, creating a structured platform where citizens can directly engage with government institutions and influence decisions that affect their lives.

Supported through the BRIDGE Project implemented by Chrysalis, Kowsala's journey demonstrates how investing in women's leadership can drive systemic reforms that strengthen democratic participation, improve transparency, and create more inclusive local governance.

Turning Community Voices into Institutional Practice

Kowsala Siva, an elected member of the Nallur Pradesha Sabha in Jaffna District, has long been committed to promoting civic participation and women's leadership. Since entering local politics in 2018 and being re-elected in 2024, she has actively worked to ensure that local government becomes more responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.

Through her participation in BRIDGE-supported leadership programmes, Kowsala gained first-hand experience of district-level Town Hall sessions, where community members, government officials, and service providers engaged in open dialogue to discuss local challenges and identify practical solutions. Recognising the effectiveness of this model, she envisioned making it a permanent feature of local governance rather than a one-time project activity.

Her goal was clear: to establish an institutional mechanism that would enable citizens, particularly women and youth, to engage directly with government authorities on issues affecting their daily lives.

Building Stronger Local Governance

Communities in Nallur faced several longstanding challenges, including concerns relating to women's and children's safety, land rights, livelihoods, governance, and access to public services. While these issues were frequently raised through individual councillors, there was no formal platform that allowed residents to interact directly with multiple government departments in a transparent and coordinated manner.

Drawing on the advocacy, leadership, and governance training she received through the BRIDGE Project, Kowsala developed a proposal to institutionalise Town Hall sessions within the Nallur Pradesha Sabha. The initiative aimed to create regular public forums where community members could present concerns, government agencies could respond directly, and local authorities could improve accountability through continuous dialogue.

In February 2026, she formally presented the resolution during the monthly council meeting. The proposal received unanimous support from all members of the Nallur Pradesha Sabha, marking a significant milestone in strengthening participatory local governance. The resolution was subsequently approved by the Commissioner of Local Government of the Northern Province, creating an opportunity for the model to be replicated across other local authorities in the region.

Advancing Women's Leadership Beyond Local Government

Kowsala's advocacy extends well beyond her local council responsibilities. As a member of the District Women Councillors' Caucus, she continues to champion greater representation of women in political decision-making and advocates for policies that promote gender equality and inclusive governance.

She has also engaged with the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to raise key issues affecting women, including political representation, digital safety, and increased budget allocations to support economically vulnerable women. These discussions reflect her commitment to ensuring that women's voices are represented at both local and national levels.

Alongside her political advocacy, Kowsala actively encourages youth participation, civic engagement, and community dialogue, recognising that inclusive governance depends on empowering citizens to become active participants in shaping their communities.

"After participating in district-level Town Hall sessions through the BRIDGE Project, I understood that this model could work at the local authority level too. I was confident enough to propose it formally—and the council agreed unanimously."
— Kowsala Siva

Creating a Lasting Legacy for Participatory Governance

The institutionalisation of the Town Hall model represents more than a successful policy initiative—it establishes a sustainable mechanism for ongoing citizen engagement. Rather than relying on occasional consultations, Nallur Pradesha Sabha now has the foundation for regular, structured dialogue between communities and public institutions.

Kowsala's leadership illustrates how empowering elected women leaders with knowledge, advocacy skills, and confidence can create reforms that extend well beyond individual projects. By embedding participatory governance into the everyday practice of local authorities, she has helped strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust.

Through the BRIDGE Project, Chrysalis continues to support leaders like Kowsala who are transforming communities by creating institutions that listen, respond, and place citizens at the centre of decision-making. Her work stands as a powerful example of how local leadership can inspire lasting governance reform and strengthen democratic participation across Sri Lanka

In the quiet village of Savukkadi, Batticaloa, the rhythm of life for Jusai Rajan has long been dictated by the land. Since the age of 14, he has worked as a farmer—tending to fields of coconut, mango, vegetables, and rearing cattle. The days were long, the sun unforgiving, and the uncertainties many. But farming was all he knew—and all he had.

"There were days," Jusai recalls, "when I would work two acres of land with just my hands. During the hardest times, there was an Anna—not my own brother, but someone I deeply respect—who stepped in to help. But mostly, it was just me and the land".

Like many smallholder farmers in the Eastern Province, Jusai Rajan had seen development organisations come and go—promising much, delivering little. So, when Chrysalis first reached out, asking what he needed, he listened politely but didn’t expect much. "I thought it would be like the others," he admits. "They ask questions, take notes, and then disappear".

But this time was different. Weeks later, Chrysalis called him back—not with empty promises, but with an invitation. They were bringing together local farmers for a series of trainings focused on modern farming techniques, resource management, and sustainable agriculture. Jusai Rajan attended, and for the first time in years, he felt like someone was truly listening. "They didn't just tell us what to do," he says. "They asked us what we needed".

For years, Jusai Rajan watered his crops the traditional way using large pipes that wasted water and demanded long, exhausting hours of manual labour. During dry seasons, the struggle was even greater; sometimes, he had to skip farming altogether because water simply wasn’t enough.

When Chrysalis provided a complete set of materials for a sprinkler system to cover ½ acre of land, everything changed. "It was more than just equipment," he says. "It was relief. It gave me time back. It gave me strength". The sprinkler system not only helped him save water but also allowed him to expand his farming area and grow more efficiently.

At the same time, Chrysalis supported him with high-quality seeds—an additional boost during a difficult personal period, when his daughter was seriously ill. "Those seeds," Jusai Rajan reflects, "gave me mental confidence. I saw them as a chance to start again".

Today, Jusai Rajan’s farm is thriving. In addition to his staple crops, he now cultivates dry fish, cashews, and various vegetables. He maintains meticulous records—a practice introduced to him during the Chrysalis trainings. This simple habit, he says, has helped him become more strategic and resilient in his decisions.

More than the tools or seeds, what Chrysalis offered Jusai Rajan was dignity and hope—things often lost in the margins of poverty. "During hard times," he reflects, "anyone who helps you is not just support—they are a friend. Chrysalis became that friend to me".

Jusai Rajan’s story is just one among many, but it reflects a deeper truth about rural resilience. In places like Batticaloa, where climate, conflict, and neglect have left deep scars, it takes more than aid—it takes trust, consistency, and respect. Through partnerships grounded in empathy, Chrysalis is helping farmers like Jusai not just survive, but reclaim their right to thrive.

"Today, 38 farming families—more than 100 individuals—are once again able to cultivate their land in both Yala and Maha seasons".

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Chrysalis," says the Secretary of the Soranathota Parakum Farmers Organization, reflecting on a journey that brought new life to his community’s fields.

For generations, the Udahampalana canal has been the heartbeat of farming in Soranathota. With over 100 years of history, it has carried water to nourish paddy fields and sustain families. In 2002, the canal was rebuilt with government support under the Provincial Irrigation Department. Yet, because wire mesh reinforcement was not included in the design, the canal soon began to break in several places, weakened by the roots of nearby areca nut trees.

By 2023, the situation had become dire. The canal broke severely, cutting off the water supply. Two acres of agricultural land were directly affected, and farming in the area began to decline, impacting farmers cultivating paddy and other field crops such as maize, vegetables, and fruits.

Desperate, the farmers reached out to local authorities—the Development Officer and the Commissioner of Agricultural Services—who guided them towards Chrysalis. There was a possibility of assistance, but it would require the community to step forward as well.

"We believed that if materials were provided, we farmers could come together to do the work," recalls the Secretary. With 150 farming families in the area and 12 acres of paddy fields depending on this canal, the community did not hesitate. Farmers rallied together; some brought stones, others contributed labour. "My brother and I both work in farming. For a long time, we couldn't get anything done. But when Chrysalis came forward with materials, we felt hope again," he says.

The community’s spirit, combined with Chrysalis’s support, made it possible to restore the canal. Today, 38 farming families—more than 100 individuals—are once again able to cultivate their land in both Yala and Maha seasons.

The Secretary remembers how close they came to giving up: "We went to the Agrarian Services office, but they said the deadline had passed. Just as we were about to lose hope, they called back and told us we could move forward with Chrysalis's support. That moment changed everything".

This project is more than a repaired canal—it is a story of resilience, collaboration, and the power of community action. Thanks to Chrysalis and the determination of the Soranathota farmers, a century-old lifeline has been revived, ensuring food security and livelihoods for generations to come.

"We are truly grateful," says the Secretary. "With Chrysalis's help, we were able to bring water back to our fields. We hope they will continue to support underdeveloped villages like ours".

For years, the farmers of Ramanathapuram lived with a burden that went beyond their fields. The very road that connected two farming villages—the lifeline for their work, their families, and even their access to hospitals—was slowly crumbling.

There was a canal, but it was poorly managed. Whenever water overflowed, it spilled into the streets, damaging them further. What should have been a blessing became a problem. Farmers struggled to bring their harvest to the market. Families found it hard to travel safely. Even urgent trips to the hospital became risky and delayed.

The situation left many in despair, but together, the Ramanathapuram Farmers’ Association decided to raise their voices. Their request was clear: the canal had to be restored and properly developed—not just for farming, but for the safety and dignity of everyone who depended on it .

Through the support of Chrysalis, that request turned into reality. The canal was carefully developed, allowing water to be distributed across 160 acres of farmland. Today, the benefits ripple far and wide—125 farming families now thrive with a reliable water flow that nourishes their crops without flooding their streets and farm land.

The change is visible in every corner of the villages. The streets that were once broken and dangerous are now preserved. Farmers can carry their harvest without fear of damage. Families can move freely between villages. And most importantly, reaching hospitals and essential services is no longer a struggle.

What was once a daily hardship has now become a story of resilience and relief. For the farmers of Ramanathapuram, this canal is more than just a waterway—it is a lifeline. It has not only safeguarded their farms and homes but has also restored peace of mind. With the help of Chrysalis, the community now looks at their streets with pride, knowing they are walking not just on safer ground, but towards a better future.

In Manthai East DS Division, Mullaitivu, the farmers of AmmiVaitha Kulam had long struggled with a broken canal. Once designed to carry water to their fields, the canal had deteriorated over the years, spilling water onto the streets and couldn't feed the crops in the latter part of the field land. The result was twofold—paddy fields starved for irrigation, while nearby roads became waterlogged and damaged.

For the 47 families who own and cultivate 30 acres of land here, the canal was not just a piece of infrastructure; it was their lifeline . Without its steady flow, cultivation was uncertain, and livelihoods hung in the balance.

"Our fields were suffering and even our streets were being damaged," recalls Nadarasa Kamalathasan, a farmer whose family depends on this land. "We could see the water, but it was never reaching where it was needed most".

The Oddaruththakulam Farmers Association raised the issue, and with Chrysalis stepping in to support the community, repairs to the canal were finally carried out. The broken sections were fixed, and the water was guided back to where it belonged—the paddy fields.

The change was immediate and visible. Now, all 30 acres are receiving sufficient water, and all 47 partner families are benefiting from the revival of cultivation. For farmers who had grown weary of watching water go to waste, this was more than a repair project; it was the return of hope .

"I am also a beneficiary of this canal," says Vedanayagam Thevanayagam, President of the Oddaruththakulam Farmers Association. "Now our lands are getting water again. The next challenge is our roads, which still need to be improved. I believe with your help, we can renovate them too".

Today, the people of Ammi Vaitha Kulam walk their fields with renewed energy, confident that the water flowing through their canal will sustain not just their crops, but their families as well. For the farmers of Manthai East DS Division, this simple but vital intervention has transformed daily struggles into future possibilities—proof that when water flows, life follows.

In the Manthai East DS Division area, Kukanisha Sindushan has spent the last five years quietly proving that resilience and determination can turn even the smallest beginnings into something extraordinary.

Her journey into organic farming began with a single crop—brinjal. At first, it was just for her family’s use. But soon, the harvest exceeded what they could consume, and she started selling the surplus to local shops. What began as a way to provide for her household slowly grew into a livelihood.

The path, however, was not easy . Despite her determination, Kukanisha often found herself excluded from many agricultural programs she applied to. With limited resources, she had to depend on others for critical tasks, like spraying pesticides on her crops.

"It was frustrating to wait for someone else to come and help," she recalls. "Sometimes it delayed the work, and I worried about losing the harvest".

That turning point came when Chrysalis extended support. Through the initiative, she received pipes for irrigation and a power sprayer, giving her the independence to manage her crops without relying on others. "Now I can spray pesticides myself, whenever it is needed. I feel more in control of my farm," she says with pride.

With newfound confidence and resources, Kukanisha expanded her cultivation. Today, her land is rich with diversity—manioc, turmeric, ladies’ fingers, ginger, and a variety of vegetables thrive alongside the brinjal that started it all. Chrysalis also introduced her to unique seed varieties and provided training workshops on planning, fertilizer use, and modern organic practices.

One moment stands out in her memory. Her ginger crop once turned unusually yellow, and she feared the harvest would fail. Instead of giving up, she reached out to the Field officer attached to the Department of Agriculture. "They gave me advice on how to manage it, and the crop recovered. That support gave me courage to keep trying new things," she says.

For Kukanisha, farming is no longer just about survival—it is about independence, growth, and hope. She dreams of expanding her farm even further, planting more seeds, and showing her community the power of organic farming.

"I started for my family," she reflects, "but now my farm feeds many more people. Every season, I am learning and growing".

In Manthai East DS Division, her fields are more than rows of crops—they are a living testament to how knowledge, tools, and determination can transform lives. For Kukanisha, every harvest is proof that with the right support, women farmers can lead the way in creating sustainable change.

In the post-conflict landscape of Northern Sri Lanka, where structural challenges often remain hidden, a quiet shift in journalism is taking place. In the Vavuniya District—and across border villages like Nedunkeni, Cheddikulam, and Puliyankulam—Prasanna Pradeep, a 36-year-old independent journalist with six years of media experience, is transforming traditional reporting into a powerful vehicle for community rights.

While Prasanna had long contributed to national media outlets including Lankadeepa, Thinamina, Divaina, and ITN, investigative journalism grounded in rights-based tools like the Right to Information (RTI) was largely absent in the region. Through the BRIDGE Programme—implemented by Chrysalis and Law & Society Trust (LST) with funding from the European Union—Prasanna received practical exposure to RTI methodologies, mobile journalism, and documentary production, shifting his practice from general reporting to systematic, evidence-based advocacy.

Exposing Hidden Realities: Civil Documentation and Wildlife Conflict

The Northern Province carries a heavy administrative burden following decades of conflict. Years after the civil war ended in 2009, nearly 100,000 returnees lacked National Identity Cards (NICs). Without NICs, affected individuals cannot vote or access essential public services like healthcare, education, and formal employment. Despite over 460,000 displaced persons returning to the region, investigative journalism capable of holding authorities accountable was scarce.

At the same time, border communities in Vavuniya were confronting a severe, underreported crisis: the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC). Driven by agricultural expansion, deforestation, and disrupted migratory routes, the conflict resulted in three human deaths and twelve elephant fatalities within a single monitoring period in the Vavuniya wildlife zone. These tragedies received minimal media attention, leaving affected communities without a public voice or institutional support.

Strategic Interventions: Turning Information into Action

Prasanna’s participation in the BRIDGE Programme marked a turning point in his career. Armed with new tools, he began filing RTI requests to uncover documentation gaps and expose institutional inertia. His investigative pieces placed the struggles of Indian-origin residents obtaining identity documents and illegal public land encroachments directly into the public sphere.

Following a capacity-building workshop on Mobile Journalism, Prasanna was commissioned to produce an evidence-based documentary on the Human-Elephant Conflict in Vavuniya. Integrating Department of Wildlife Conservation data, field investigations, and community testimonies, the documentary highlights the structural drivers of the crisis to spur policy attention.

Beyond his local district, an exposure visit to Batticaloa enabled Prasanna to investigate the socio-economic challenges of communities displaced since 1990. Utilizing his bilingual fluency in Tamil and Sinhala, he bridged narrative divides by publishing stories across language spheres to foster cross-community awareness. Rather than reporting on communities, he collaborated directly with local youth, farmer, and women's groups, conducting rights-awareness sessions to equip the next generation with advocacy tools.

"RTI opened doors that were never opened before. When communities see their issues in print and on screen, they know their voices matter. Through this training, I moved from individual media practice to collective rights-based action."

— Prasanna Pradeep, Independent Journalist, Vavuniya

Lasting Impact and Key Learnings

Prasanna’s evolution demonstrates the transformative power of rights-based media in post-conflict contexts:

RTI as an Accountability Tool: Submitting RTI requests creates an irrefutable paper trail, turning informal community complaints into documented evidence that institutions cannot ignore.

Bilingual Reporting for Cohesion: Carrying Tamil community issues into Sinhala media—and vice versa—builds cross-community understanding where mainstream media often falls short.

Mobile Journalism Reach: Utilizing digital tools and documentary formats renders complex investigations accessible to policy-makers and the general public alike.

Collective Advocacy: Engaging youth, farmers, and women’s groups turns investigative reporting into a collaborative, community-led rights movement.

Looking Ahead: Building a Sustainable Ecosystem

Prasanna Pradeep’s journey highlights how equipping a single journalist with rights-based methodologies can catalyze widespread community empowerment. By connecting vulnerable populations with formal decision-making channels, his work ensures that the undocumented, the displaced, and those living on the frontlines of human-wildlife conflict are no longer invisible. Through ongoing awareness sessions and collaborative investigations, Prasanna is helping build a lasting ecosystem of informed, active citizens across Northern Sri Lanka

In the quiet divisions of Cheddikulam within the Vavuniya District, a subtle yet profound shift is taking place in how local government engages with rural communities. At the center of this transformation is Sumithira, a dedicated Women Development Officer. Armed with fresh insights from the BRIDGE Project, she has redefined what community engagement looks like, demonstrating that meaningful dialogue and governance do not require grand halls or formal stages—sometimes, all it takes is the shade of a tree.

The Challenge of Unspoken Concerns

In Cheddikulam, vulnerable groups—including women, young girls, elderly citizens, and emerging women entrepreneurs—face complex social, economic, and safety challenges. Critical issues such as domestic violence, sexual harassment during public transport commutes, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and menstrual hygiene in schools were widely felt across the community, yet rarely brought forward in a structured manner.

Without a trusted, low-barrier platform to voice these sensitive topics, community members had few clear avenues for redress, making it difficult for local service providers and state officials to intervene early or systematically.

Strategic Support from the BRIDGE Project: A New Approach

The turning point came through capacity development training organized by Chrysalis under the BRIDGE Project. Designed specifically for state officials, the training introduced the Town Hall model as a dynamic tool for inclusive problem-solving.

For Sumithira, the training fundamentally changed her approach to public administration. She recognized that effective civic participation does not depend on air-conditioned venues, loudspeakers, or formal arrangements. Instead, true engagement relies on creating an approachable, respectful environment where citizens can speak freely, prioritize their needs, and agree on actionable outcomes.

Adapting Principles into Grassroots Practice

Rather than waiting for official forums or budget approvals, Sumithira put these principles into immediate practice. She convened informal community-level discussions directly in the neighborhoods where women live and work.

Applying the core steps of listening, prioritizing, documenting, and following up, Sumithira established an open space for addressing multi-faceted issues:

Safety and Protection: Facilitated reporting and documentation regarding sexual harassment experienced by women and girls commuting between Vavuniya and Cheddikulam, while mobilizing local responses to domestic violence and drug abuse.

Social Welfare: Directly facilitated support mechanisms, including arranging care home placement for vulnerable elderly community members.

Health and Youth Wellbeing: Sparked open conversations about school-based challenges, menstrual hygiene, and teenage pregnancy prevention.

Economic Empowerment & Leadership: Mentored local women entrepreneurs and grassroots leaders on self-reliance, building confidence, recovering from business setbacks, and balancing enterprise responsibilities with family life.

"After understanding the real purpose of the Town Hall, I realized that a conducive meeting environment does not always need a good hall, electric fans, furniture, or loudspeakers. What matters is creating the space for people to speak and for us to listen and act."

— Sumithira, Women Development Officer, Cheddikulam

Impact and Key Learnings

By transforming a formal governance tool into an accessible community practice, Sumithira demonstrated how trained state officials can bridge the gap between citizens and service delivery.

Key takeaways from this initiative include:

Adaptability: Town Hall principles can be tailored to informal, low-cost local environments without losing their effectiveness.

Accountability: Active listening and structured follow-ups ensure that protection, health, and transport concerns enter official decision-making channels.

Empowerment: Inclusive spaces give women and vulnerable populations the confidence to advocate for their rights and well-being.

Looking Ahead: A Replicable Model for Inclusive Governance

This experience highlights a practical, scalable outcome of the BRIDGE Project. By shifting from traditional, top-down administration to empathetic, listening-focused dialogue, Sumithira has set a benchmark for local public service. Her work proves that when officials build trust and lower barriers to entry, grassroots governance can truly flourish—right down to the shade of a village tree.

In Northern Sri Lanka, the rapid proliferation of smartphones and social media platforms has opened new frontiers for economic empowerment and civic engagement. However, for many women in the Vavuniya District, this digital shift has also brought serious vulnerabilities, exposing them to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV), including cyberbullying, online harassment, sextortion, and non-consensual image sharing.

Stepping up to turn digital access into safety is Ms. Subtharshini Sivatharshan, a dedicated government Women Development Officer. Through the BRIDGE Programme—supported financially by People for Justice—Subtharshini completed intensive ICT training that equipped her with video editing, content creation, social media branding, and deep knowledge of national legal frameworks like the Online Safety Act.

Subtharshini transformed her government role into an active digital safety and empowerment function, creating a protective framework for women navigating the online world.

Confronting Digital Vulnerability in Vavuniya

While platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp offer women entrepreneurs tools to market local goods and connect with broader communities, a lack of digital literacy often leaves them vulnerable to exploitation. Without understanding privacy settings, secure password management, or reporting channels, attempting to leverage digital spaces for economic survival often compounded existing risks.

Recognizing that general software training was insufficient, Subtharshini set out to bridge the gap between digital opportunity and online protection across communities in Vavuniya.

Strategic Interventions: Building Physical Digital Safe Spaces

Funding from People for Justice enabled Subtharshini to design and deliver six gender-sensitive awareness sessions reaching approximately 210 women across the district. The program moved beyond basic instructions to deliver actionable, real-world skills:

Technical Cyber Safety: Participants learned practical online safety protocols, including password protection, two-factor authentication, using the 'Hitha Wathi' cyber safety app, and securing account privacy settings.

Legal and Rights Awareness: The curriculum demystified the Online Safety Act and detailed formal reporting procedures, guiding participants on how to lodge complaints with the Police Cybercrime Division.

Physical Digital Safe Spaces: Localized, judgment-free hubs were established where women could discuss online threats openly, build solidarity, and learn free from harassment.

Practical Economic Skills: Women were trained in digital marketing—such as establishing product pages on Facebook Marketplace and utilizing mobile money services securely—enabling them to expand their livelihoods safely.

Mentorship & Simulation: Through peer-to-peer mentoring and role-playing exercises, experienced participants guided beginners in managing suspicious messages and blocking online harassment.

"I did not know I had rights online. Now I know how to protect myself — and I can teach others to do the same."

— Awareness Session Participant, Vavuniya District

"The Digital Safe Space gave us a place to talk about things that happened online that we were too ashamed to say anywhere else. Knowing we were not alone changed everything."

— Awareness Session Participant, Vavuniya District

Measurable Results and Community Multiplier Effect

Subtharshini’s localized training model delivered immediate, tangible protection outcomes:

Direct Legal Action: More than five cybercrime cases were formally referred to the Cybercrime Division following the sessions, leading to direct legal and protective action.

Enhanced Visibility for Advocacy: Participants gained digital skills in video editing and content creation, enabling them to use social platforms for grassroots advocacy on gender equality and community issues.

Sustained Peer Support: The peer-mentoring approach established a lasting network where trained women continue to pass digital safety knowledge to others in their villages.

Looking Ahead: A Model for Digital Rights

Subtharshini Sivatharshan’s work demonstrates that digital tools are only as empowering as they are safe. By equipping an embedded Women Development Officer with ICT tools and rights awareness, the BRIDGE Programme generated a sustainable ripple effect across Vavuniya. Her initiative shows that when women understand their digital rights, digital spaces transform from places of risk into platforms for safety, economic independence, and advocacy.

In local government administration, bridging the gap between public expectations and municipal action remains a critical challenge. In the Jaffna District of Sri Lanka's Northern Province, Karaveddy Pradeshiya Sabha is demonstrating how local authorities can move beyond top-down administration to embrace participatory, transparent governance. At the forefront of this institutional shift is Mr. Kanesan Kamshanathan, Secretary of the Pradeshiya Sabha, who has successfully translated project-level training into sustainable public administration practices.

The Challenge: Disconnected Complaints and Unheard Priorities

Historically, citizens in local authority jurisdictions voiced their concerns through fragmented channels—ad-hoc visits, letters, phone calls, or political intermediaries. While this informal approach occasionally resolved individual grievances, it failed to create an evidence-based record of community needs. Without a structured mechanism to record and analyze feedback, the same local issues repeatedly surfaced without being factored into annual municipal budgets or systematic service delivery plans.

While Mr. Kamshanathan was personally committed to transparent governance, he faced two primary hurdles: the lack of a practical framework to systematically gather citizen feedback for budget planning, and a personal hesitation to share strategic ideas among peer government officials.

Strategic Support from the BRIDGE Project: Reframing Governance

The catalyst for change came through the "Training for Capacity Development to State Officials on Town Hall Meeting Engagement," delivered by Chrysalis under the BRIDGE Project.

The program provided a clear, practical roadmap for bottom-up administration: teaching officials how to listen, record, prioritize, respond, and report back to communities effectively. For Mr. Kamshanathan, the training was transformative. It reframed the Town Hall concept from a static, one-off event into a dynamic, everyday administrative practice.

"I used to feel reluctant to share my ideas with colleagues at the same level of government. Now I feel confident communicating across different levels of governance and committed to promoting public involvement in government decision-making."

— Mr. Kanesan Kamshanathan, Secretary, Karaveddy Pradeshiya Sabha

Transforming Practice into Institutional Infrastructure

Rather than limiting the practice to a single department or relying solely on his personal oversight, Mr. Kamshanathan systematically embedded the Town Hall model throughout the Pradeshiya Sabha's operations:

Wide Community Reach: Expanded the Town Hall approach across 19 zones, providing a direct, accessible route for citizens to bring forward local concerns.

Budgetary Integration: Directly linked community feedback gathered during Town Hall sessions to annual municipal budget planning, ensuring local resource allocation is backed by grassroots evidence.

Multi-Channel Complaint Management: Diversified public access channels—allowing grievances to be lodged via phone, mobile applications, email, post, print media, and direct visits.

Quarterly Accountability Records: Introduced systematic quarterly complaint logging to categorize grievance types and track corresponding municipal service responses, establishing clear institutional accountability.

Internal Capacity Building & Sustainability: Oriented internal staff on Town Hall methodologies so the practice is institutionally sustained, while formulating plans to train newly elected councillors following upcoming local council elections.

Impact and Key Learnings

The success of Karaveddy Pradeshiya Sabha offers valuable insights for local governance reform across Sri Lanka:

Practical Integration: Training state officials yields maximum impact when methodologies align directly with daily administrative functions like budgeting and grievance handling.

Evidence-Based Budgeting: Town Halls gain institutional weight when citizen inputs directly shape resource allocation and public expenditure.

Sustainable Institutionalization: Knowledge transfer to municipal staff and elected leaders ensures that participatory governance outlasts individual tenure or project cycles.

Looking Ahead: A Replicable Model for Local Authorities

The transformation within Karaveddy Pradeshiya Sabha illustrates how the BRIDGE Project moves beyond individual capacity development into systemic local governance reform. By turning public dialogue into a structured administrative mechanism, Mr. Kamshanathan has set a benchmark for inclusive, accountable, and rights-based local decision-making.

In the male-dominated political landscape of Northern Sri Lanka, systemic gender bias often relegates capable women to peripheral support roles. In Pesalai, Mannar District, Roman Diffna Croos—a former local government councillor—faced this reality head-on. Despite her proven dedication and articulate leadership, her former party, the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), repeatedly sidelined her when candidate nominations were finalized.

Rather than withdrawing from public life, Roman turned institutional exclusion into an unprecedented movement. Supported by Chrysalis and the BRIDGE Programme, she transformed her experience into an independent, women-led political platform that is redefining local governance in Mannar.

Breaking Free from Party Gatekeeping

Roman’s early political career under the ACMC was defined by persistent resistance to her outspoken, analytical nature. While the party utilized women for grassroots mobilization, it repeatedly refused to grant them decision-making power or election nominations. The breaking point arrived ahead of the scheduled 2023 local government elections, when the party once again passed her over in favor of male candidates.

Faced with structural barriers designed to limit female representation, Roman chose to rewrite her path. Through the BRIDGE Programme, the District Women Councillors’ Caucus, the PAFFREL Diploma in political and social studies, and the Women Campaign Academy, she acquired comprehensive training in election law, public speaking, strategic messaging, and resource-lean campaigning.

Armed with technical knowledge and newfound independence, Roman registered an independent, women-led political party in Mannar under the bullock cart symbol.

Strategic Interventions: Building a Platform for the Next Generation

Roman built her party around inclusive, community-rooted principles, drawing support from Women’s Rural Development Societies (WRDs), schools, media, and cultural networks:

Cross-Gender Alignment: Launched with 23 founding members (14 women and 9 men), the party grew to 30 active members, demonstrating that women-led political initiatives can command broad, cross-gender support.

Experience-Sharing & Mentorship: Established structured workshops to prepare women and youth in Mannar to speak publicly, navigate election mechanics, frame community issues, and overcome gendered political obstacles.

Resource-Light Campaigning: Applied practical, low-cost campaign strategies learned at the Women Campaign Academy to compete effectively without reliance on big-money political backing.

Holistic Community Service: Beyond electoral politics, Roman mobilized external funding (including UNDP support) for local self-employment initiatives and distributed essential school supplies and stationery to community children.

Impact and Transformative Leadership

The party's campaign culminated in a historic breakthrough: winning a seat in the local government elections.

In a powerful display of transformative leadership, Roman made the deliberate choice not to occupy the seat herself. Instead, she passed the mandate to another female member of her party, establishing a culture of succession, shared power, and collective empowerment.

"I rewrote fate, erased backward myths, and became a role model. Now I want every woman to know — they can too. If women can join, they can do anything."

— Roman Diffna Croos, Founder & Political Leader, Mannar

Key Learnings

Roman Diffna Croos’s journey offers vital lessons for women’s political participation across Sri Lanka

Exclusion as Catalyst: When equipped with campaign methodologies and political knowledge, women can convert party exclusion into independent political platforms.

Peer-to-Peer Preparation: Lived-experience mentoring and public speaking workshops significantly lower the barrier to political entry for women and youth.

Succession-Oriented Leadership: True political empowerment occurs when leaders create opportunities for other women to step forward into elected roles.

Looking Ahead: A Replicable Model for Women in Politics

Roman Diffna Croos’s transition from a sidelined party member to the founder of an elected, independent platform demonstrates the potential of targeted political readiness training. Supported by Chrysalis and the BRIDGE Programme, her work proves that when women lead on their own terms, they build resilient platforms that advance democratic accountability and community wellbeing.

Public transit is an indispensable lifeline for daily life, economic participation, and access to essential services. However, for the over 2,000 commuters who pass through the Jaffna Central Bus Stand daily—more than half of whom are women and girls—navigating public transport was long fraught with anxiety, inadequate facilities, and unaddressed harassment.

Leading the charge to transform public transport from a risk into a safe, dignified space is Ms. Kulagowry, Vice President of the Federation of Civil Society Organizations in Jaffna District. Supported by Chrysalis through the European Union-funded BRIDGE Programme, Kulagowry gained essential digital skills, case documentation techniques, and strategic advocacy tools, turning everyday transit safety into an active governance issue.

The Challenge: Invisible Hazards at Transit Hubs

Despite serving as the primary transit hub in Jaffna, the Central Bus Stand lacked fundamental protection infrastructure. Women travelling during early morning or late evening hours faced unlit waiting areas, harassment, and no functional emergency mechanisms or police presence.

Basic sanitation and essential facilities were similarly compromised. The designated mother-feeding room was misused and inaccessible, forcing mothers to feed infants in public, while poorly maintained rest facilities caused many women to avoid using them entirely due to hygiene and safety concerns. Without formal grievance channels, transit safety remained an unaddressed, private burden carried by female passengers.

Strategic Interventions: Multi-Tiered Advocacy & Public Governance

Recognizing that transportation safety directly impacts women’s economic mobility, education, and healthcare access, Kulagowry orchestrated a multi-tiered advocacy campaign:

Cross-Level Awareness Sessions: Organized three structured awareness convenings targeting distinct governance tiers—engaging provincial health and road transport authorities, the Jaffna District Secretary alongside drivers and conductors, and local village-level stakeholders at the Kopay Divisional Secretariat.

Institutional Grievance Mechanism: Partnered with the CSO Federation to install and take formal responsibility for a dedicated complaints box at the Jaffna Central Bus Stand.

High-Level Formal Submissions: Coordinated a simultaneous formal petition delivered to the District Secretary, the Governor of the Northern Province, the Secretary of the Provincial Women's Ministry, and the Mayor of Jaffna Municipal Council requesting a permanent, 24-hour police booth.

Digital Documentation & Capacity Transfer: Applied ICT skills to document cases and draft formal smartphone-based submissions, subsequently training approximately 40 participants across local women's societies to expand community advocacy capacity.

Sustained Governance Alliances: Facilitated a three-party advocacy coalition uniting the Civil Society Federation, the Town Hall platform, and the Jaffna District Women’s Political Council to ensure ongoing institutional oversight.

"BRIDGE was a path that helped us cross our challenges and find solutions. We now believe through persistent advocacy you can find solutions to long standing issues."

— Ms. Kulagowry, Vice President, Federation of Civil Society Organizations, Jaffna

Measurable Safety Improvements

Kulagowry’s persistent, evidence-based advocacy achieved concrete infrastructure and policy outcomes:

Operational Safety Alarm: Restored functionality to the central bus stand’s safety alarm system, providing an immediate emergency mechanism.

Restructured Mother-Feeding Facility: Reorganized the mother-feeding room with a dedicated key-holder access system to prevent misuse and restore privacy and dignity for nursing mothers.

Restroom Sanitation & Upgrades: Restored operational standards to two key public restrooms managed by the Jaffna Municipal Council and Sri Lanka Transport Board, accompanied by regular municipal waste removal.

Visible Awareness: Installed public safety signage and rights stickers across the terminal to normalize the expectation of harassment-free public spaces.

Broader Community Impact: Facilitated district town hall dialogues that connected over 100 community members with government officials, leading directly to clean drinking water interventions in Neervely.

Looking Ahead: Institutionalizing Safe Spaces

Kulagowry’s initiative demonstrates that transit safety is a foundational rights issue. By combining digital documentation, multi-level stakeholder coordination, and institutional accountability, her work with the BRIDGE Programme has set a scalable benchmark for gender-sensitive public infrastructure across Sri Lanka.

In post-conflict Kilinochchi, a single missing document often stands as an insurmountable barrier between vulnerable families and their basic rights. For many families—particularly upcountry Tamil communities who relocated to the district—the absence of a birth certificate blocks access to National Identity Cards (NICs), state welfare programs like Aswesuma, school enrollment, legal employment, and secure land tenure.

Leading the effort to break this cycle of invisibility is Mr. Rajeevkaran, a dedicated social activist and President of the Federation of Civil Society Organizations in Kilinochchi District. Supported by Chrysalis through the European Union-funded BRIDGE Programme, Rajeevkaran transformed informal community concerns into a structured, evidence-based advocacy system that is unlocking civil entitlements across the district.

The Challenge: A Cascading Chain of Exclusion

For hill-country Tamil families living in Kilinochchi, obtaining a birth certificate presents unique structural hurdles. To apply for delayed registration, individuals must first secure a theduthal (declaration of search) form from their distant upcountry place of origin—a journey involving prohibitive travel costs and complex bureaucratic procedures. Without external support, families remained trapped in documentation gaps for decades.

This documentation gap created a cascading chain of exclusion. Without a birth certificate, individuals could not obtain an NIC; without an NIC, they were systematically excluded from essential welfare programs like Aswesuma, public examinations, voter rolls, and official land title deeds in areas like 40 Ponnagar and Dharmapuram.

Strategic Interventions: From Field Research to District Advocacy

Supported by BRIDGE training in human rights, ICT documentation, and town hall facilitation, Rajeevkaran launched a systematic campaign to bridge the documentation gap:

Evidence-Based Field Research: Conducted structured research across 5 initial villages, gathering concrete data to prove that missing documentation was an institutional failure rather than individual negligence.

Institutional Coordination: Presented research findings jointly to the Kilinochchi District Secretariat and Divisional Secretariat Karaichi, expanding the campaign's scope from 5 to 9 Grama Niladhari (GS) divisions.

Direct Procedural Facilitation: Established a hands-on support system—assisting families in completing theduthal forms, monitoring form dispatches alongside government officials, and utilizing a case-tracking checklist.

High-Level Land Rights Representation: Leveraged shadow town halls and high-level panels to advocate for formal land tenure for long-standing residents in 40 Ponnagar and Dharmapuram.

Community-Wide Engagement: Facilitated district town hall dialogues and organized mobile awareness sessions that directly educated 200 community members on civil documentation rights.

"BRIDGE engagements helped people learn, lead, and create positive change in their communities."

— Mr. Rajeevkaran, President, Federation of Civil Society Organizations, Kilinochchi

Measurable Results and Community Impact

Rajeevkaran’s structured advocacy achieved transformative outcomes across Kilinochchi District:

Comprehensive Registration: Formally registered 352 birth certificate cases across 9 GS divisions.

Procedural Bottlenecks Cleared: Successfully filed over 170 theduthal forms, clearing the primary procedural obstacle for upcountry Tamil families.

Civil Entitlements Restored: Directly secured birth certificates for 20–30 families (with processing ongoing), restoring their immediate access to NICs, Aswesuma welfare benefits, schooling, and banking.

Progress on Land Rights: Prompted the Divisional Secretariat to formally review land tenure documentation for families in 40 Ponnagar and Dharmapuram.

Expanded Capacity: Enabled community members to engage directly with state institutions and utilized ICT skills to increase local awareness of government welfare schemes.

Looking Ahead: Securing Civil Identity as a Foundation for Growth

Rajeevkaran’s work proves that civil documentation is the foundational doorway to all other human rights. By converting individual struggles into documented community entitlements, his advocacy through the BRIDGE Programme demonstrates how civil society leadership can partner with local government to ensure no citizen remains invisible.

In post-conflict Kilinochchi, where displacement disrupted civil infrastructure and fractured community-state relationships, local issues—ranging from missing birth certificates to inadequate street lighting and water access—often went unaddressed for years. Community members, particularly women, lacked formal, structured channels to present their concerns directly to service providers and demand institutional accountability.

To bridge this gap, the Kilinochchi District Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Federation, supported by Chrysalis through the BRIDGE Programme, introduced a quarterly town hall and shadow town hall model co-chaired by the Provincial Ministry of Women's Affairs and the District Secretariat. This initiative has transformed scattered grassroots complaints into a structured platform for local democracy and service delivery.

The Challenge: Governance Deficits and Unaddressed Grassroots Concerns

Despite high poverty rates and significant gaps in local services, rural residents—especially women and upcountry Tamil families resettled after the conflict—had no direct access to decision-making bodies like the District Coordinating Committee (DCC).

Critical issues such as saline water intrusion, illegal sand mining, poor waste management, and the lack of basic civil documentation remained unresolved. Without birth certificates or National Identity Cards (NICs), affected families were structurally excluded from state welfare programs like Aswesuma, formal employment, banking, and higher education.

Strategic Interventions: Structured Dialogue and Capacity Building

Through the BRIDGE Programme, civil society leaders were equipped with skills in ICT-based evidence documentation, human rights advocacy, and shadow town hall facilitation:

Quarterly Town Hall Platforms: Established recurring, documented multi-stakeholder sessions bringing community members face-to-face with government service providers.

Capacity Cascading: Trained community leaders who subsequently shared skills with 64 local women political leaders, activists, and human rights defenders.

Mobile Birth Certificate Services: Collaborated with the District Secretariat, Divisional Secretariat Karaichi, and the Registrar General’s Department to launch a mobile documentation service directly in target villages.

Centering Women's Voices: Created an inclusive space where women represent over 50% of active participants, elevating issues like women's safety, transport for pregnant women, and child protection.

"These town halls are grassroots democracy in action... Communities now know how to demand. Institutions now know they must respond. That is the most powerful change I have witnessed."

— Mrs. Nalayene Inparaj, Additional District Secretary, Kilinochchi District

Measurable Impact and Key Outcomes

The town hall framework has established a track record of institutional responsiveness:

High Resolution Rate: Across eight town hall sessions, community representatives raised 59 issues, leading to 57 formal decisions (a 97% decision rate) and 15 fully resolved cases to date, with recent 2026 sessions reaching a 100% resolution rate.

Direct Documentation Relief: The joint mobile service issued 60 birth certificates in its initial drive, with 70 additional applications currently processing out of 130 submitted across 9 Grama Niladhari divisions.

Restored Welfare and Entitlements: Beneficiaries who received documents gained immediate eligibility for Aswesuma welfare support, school registrations for 20 students, bank loans, and formal legal transactions.

Sustained Leadership: Built local capacity to continuously monitor commitments and track institutional follow-up between formal sessions.

Looking Ahead: Institutionalizing Grassroots Democracy

By providing structure, evidence, and preparation, Kilinochchi’s town hall model demonstrates that community advocacy can turn informal grievances into binding institutional commitments. The platform continues to ensure that local governance actively addresses the priorities of the citizens it serves.

In Northern Sri Lanka, communities carry complex legal needs shaped by decades of armed conflict, post-war land disputes, suppressed identities, and persistent structural barriers. While basic legal rights exist on paper, a critical gap remains: the need for legal professionals who understand these lived realities well enough to translate rights into practical protection and justice.

To bridge the disconnect between classroom legal theory and community reality, the Law and Society Trust (LST), in partnership with Chrysalis under the BRIDGE project, implemented the Fellowship Programme on Gender and Human Rights (January 2024 – March 2025). Engaging 35 young legal professionals—including practising lawyers and law students from the University of Jaffna—the fellowship transformed emerging lawyers into active human rights defenders (HRDs) and protection resources across Northern Sri Lanka.

The Challenge: Moving Past Theoretical Legal Education

Conventional legal education in Sri Lanka relies heavily on statutory texts and case law, offering limited exposure to grassroots legal struggles. Young legal professionals often enter the field without practical insight into complex local challenges, such as:

Protecting the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals navigating hostile legal environments.

Resolving land tenure disputes for long-displaced families

Advocating for Muslim personal law reform, including child marriage protections.

Providing survivor-centered support for domestic violence and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases.

Navigating maritime legal issues for fishermen detained in cross-border disputes.

Additionally, young lawyers from rural districts like Mannar frequently lack professional connections with senior practitioners, human rights institutions, and referral networks, leaving them isolated when attempting to address systemic injustices.

Strategic Interventions: Experiential Learning and Protective Networks

The fellowship established an experiential, three-tiered learning framework to connect young lawyers directly with community needs and national human rights mechanisms:

Community Consultations: Conducted five 1-day consultations across all northern districts, bringing fellows into direct dialogue with local activists, victims, and HRDs to analyze ground-level human rights situations.

Targeted Legal Remedy Training: Held five 2-day training sessions following the consultations, equipping fellows with actionable knowledge on legal frameworks surrounding SGBV, land rights, and human rights violations.

Institutional Lobby Tours: Organized six regional and national exposure visits—including engagements with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), national BAR associations, SGBV/LGBTIQ networks, and an exposure visit to Hambantota in Southern Sri Lanka to study national patterns of structural exclusion

Integration into Referral Networks: Directly linked participants to LST’s multi-stakeholder referral network, establishing formal channels to assist human rights defenders and vulnerable community members.

"Before this programme, I studied law but I didn’t fully understand the people law is supposed to serve... I came back knowing that wherever I practise, I have a responsibility to the community, not just to the law."

— Law Fellowship Participant

Measurable Results and Community Impact

The fellowship successfully built a network of legal advocates who actively deploy their skills for community protection:

Capacity & Network Expansion: Connected 35 legal fellows (15 lawyers and 20 law students) with senior legal practitioners, civil society organizations (CSOs), and state human rights bodies.

Cross-Border Maritime Advocacy: Fellow Kanila, now practising as an attorney-at-law, applied her training to assist legal initiatives supporting Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen arrested by the Indian Navy, directly contributing to securing the release ofdetained fishermen.

Voluntary Community Legal Aid: Pre-qualification law students established voluntary guidance and referral pipelines, helping community members navigate domestic violence and land dispute processes before seeking formal representation.

Expanded Perspective on Exclusion: Southern exposure visits reframed local northern challenges as broader national rights issues, encouraging cross-regional solidarity and advocacy.

Looking Ahead: Institutionalizing Rights-Based Legal Practice

By linking legal education directly to community protection and institutional referral mechanisms, the BRIDGE Programme has empowered a new generation of legal professionals in Northern Sri Lanka. These young lawyers continue to serve as a vital protection resource, ensuring that the law functions as an accessible tool for justice.

In Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, cooperative societies serve as vital economic lifelines—managing micro-credit, agricultural support, and community welfare. However, despite women playing a central role in household economies and community life, cooperative governance structures historically remained heavily male-dominated. Grassroots concerns carried by women rarely reached executive decision-making tables.

To challenge this structural exclusion, Kalaiselvi Suntharalingam—a 47-year-old female head of household from Puthukkudiyiruppu—partnered with Chrysalis through the BRIDGE Project and its predecessor initiatives to build collective women’s leadership across village, divisional, district, and provincial cooperative networks.

The Challenge: Male-Dominated Governance and Disconnected Community Voices

In post-conflict Mullaitivu, women lacked formal representation in governance platforms that controlled essential economic resources. Community concerns raised at the grassroots level lacked structured pathways to reach local authorities or provincial decision-makers.

Navigating formal governance required skills in institutional advocacy, dispute resolution, conflict management, and public engagement—capacities that male-dominated structures rarely fostered among women leaders. Without targeted support, capable women remained sidelined from policy and budget decisions.

Strategic Interventions: Multi-Tier Advocacy, Right to Information, and Town Halls

Supported by Chrysalis, Kalaiselvi developed comprehensive skills in leadership, conflict sensitivity, Right to Information (RTI) activism, and public advocacy, deploying multi-pronged strategies to transform local governance:

Advocating for Gender Quotas: Spearheaded an advocacy campaign calling for 50% women’s membership in public and cooperative institutions across Mullaitivu District.

Active Right to Information (RTI) Practice: Filed 56 RTI requests (securing 53 official responses) targeting elder care, land documentation, remote government service access, and welfare eligibility for female-headed households and gender-based violence (GBV) survivors.

Institutionalizing Town Halls: Contributed to the passage of a formal local authority resolution establishing recurring, documented town hall sessions in Mullaitivu District to hold decision-makers directly accountable.

Multi-Level Representation: Escalated grassroots economic priorities by advancing to key leadership positions, including President of the Mullaitivu District Cooperative Council and Executive Committee Member of the Northern Province Cooperative Development Bank.

"I learned how to build leadership skills and handle conflict within organisations. But the most important thing I learned was that women’s membership in public institutions is not a favour—it is a right. When women sit at the table, the issues that matter to communities actually get discussed."

— Kalaiselvi Suntharalingam, President, Mullaitivu District Cooperative Council

Measurable Results and Systemic Norm Shifts

Kalaiselvi’s sustained advocacy has reshaped civil society and economic governance across Mullaitivu:

Formal Adoption of Gender Quotas: Five key types of cooperative societies—including Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (MPCS), Farmer Cooperatives, and Thrift and Credit Cooperative Societies (TCCS)—adopted a 40% women’s membership target.

Surge in Women's Membership: Over 600 women newly joined cooperative general bodies over two years, with women now holding 25% to 30% of executive positions across TCCS and MPCS networks.

District-Wide Community Centre Reform: All 159 community centres in Mullaitivu District increased women’s membership up to 40%, with women occupying 20% to 25% of executive leadership positions.

Institutional Recognition: Awarded the prestigious district-level ‘Ariyathai’ Award by the Governor of the Northern Province and the District Secretary of Mullaitivu for outstanding contributions to grassroots community empowerment.

Looking Ahead: Institutionalizing Inclusive Governance

Kalaiselvi’s journey demonstrates that cooperative societies are not merely financial mechanisms, but powerful civic accountability platforms. By institutionalizing gender equity and town hall accountability, the BRIDGE Programme continues to ensure that local and provincial governance reflects the voices and priorities of the communities it serves.

Women local leaders and human rights defenders in Northern Sri Lanka routinely face steep obstacles, ranging from deeply entrenched patriarchal gender norms at home to public character attacks. In today's digital age, these barriers increasingly manifest as targeted online harassment and cyber harassment campaigns designed to intimidate women and silence their public voice.

For Mary Alan Arthi Valentine Kanchan, a 42-year-old activist from Jimron Nagar in Mannar District, overcoming these challenges required transforming digital threats into actionable advocacy. Supported by Chrysalis through the BRIDGE Project and earlier initiatives, Arthi has emerged as the President of the Mannar CSO Federation, a digital safety advocate, and a local government candidate.

The Challenge: Compounding Social Norms and Cyber Threats

Arthi’s journey into social activism met severe resistance early on. Challenging traditional gender roles brought intense criticism, domestic friction, and social pressure from extended family attempting to force her compliance and exit from public life.

When she stood her ground and continued advocating against institutional inertia, the resistance escalated into targeted online harassment. False rumors and defamatory social media posts were circulated to destroy her reputation and intimidate her family. In Mannar District, accessing digital safety and legal redress is particularly difficult because cybercrime complaints are primarily handled by the Cyber Crime Division in Jaffna—geographically and institutionally distant from rural women activists.

Strategic Interventions: Digital Advocacy, Legal Action, and Civic Mobilization

Through Chrysalis and the BRIDGE Project, Arthi built a powerful toolkit combining leadership, ICT skills, and human rights advocacy:

Digital Safety & Cybercrime Reporting: Completed comprehensive training in data protection, password security, mobile communication, and the Online Safety Act. When targeted by defamatory online attacks, she gathered evidence and formally reported the issue to the Cyber Crime Division in Jaffna, the Legal Aid Commission, and women’s rights organizations, securing a full resolution within one week.

Cascading Community Awareness: Conducted digital safety and online security awareness sessions for community-based organization (CBO) members, mothers, and women across her village to build grassroots digital resilience.

Ministerial and High-Level Advocacy: Engaged directly with the Minister of Women and Child Affairs alongside CSO representatives to highlight the cyber safety and digital threats faced by women leaders across the Northern Province, prompting commitments for coordinated police and state action.

Economic & Rights-Based Leadership: Initiated a home garden initiative for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) to build economic independence. Additionally, she sparked a public protest against beneficiary discrimination in state welfare schemes, inspiring similar rights-based movements in neighboring districts.

"I realized that to create real change in the community, I first had to transform my own family. By challenging norms within my household, I could pave the way for leadership... Through the BRIDGE Project, I learned how to respond to cyber harassment, report online abuse, and guide other women on digital safety and security."

— Mary Alan Arthi, President, Mannar CSO Federation

Measurable Results and Community Impact

Arthi’s courage and technical capacity have translated into systemic, multi-sector outcomes:

Elected Leadership: Thrice elected President of the Mannar CSO Federation (2021, 2023, and 2025), unifying 40 civil society organizations across the district.

Political Empowerment: Nominated to contest in local government elections, breaking structural barriers around women's political participation.

Rapid Legal Redress: Successfully demonstrated that digital safety training enables women activists to achieve swift legal resolution against online abuse.

District-Wide Public Forums: Organized multi-stakeholder town hall sessions with local and provincial authorities addressing land disputes, GBV, public property issues, and environmental protection.

Looking Ahead: Securing Women’s Public Voice

Arthi’s journey shows that equipping women leaders with digital safety tools and rights-based training turns personal resistance into widespread public impact. By establishing clear reporting pathways and advocating at national levels, the BRIDGE Project ensures that women can speak through barriers and shape the future of their communities safely.

In the coastal fishing communities of Mannar District, local livelihoods are under threat from illegal bottom-trawling by Indian vessels and unaddressed environmental concerns surrounding large-scale projects like wind farms. Simultaneously, deeply ingrained social norms marginalize vulnerable groups—particularly widows and persons with disabilities—excluding them from public leadership and community life.

Reeta Vasanthi Kathiramalai, a 65-year-old widow, person with a disability, and head of household from Jimron Nagar, has transformed these intersecting challenges into a platform for rights-based advocacy. Supported by Chrysalis through the BRIDGE Project and earlier capacity-building initiatives, Reeta has emerged as a national and regional leader for fisheries justice, disability rights, and women’s dignity.

The Challenge: Resource Conflicts, Social Exclusion, and Environmental Threats

Small-scale coastal communities in Jimron Nagar face a constellation of systemic issues:

Fisheries & Livelihood Destruction: Illegal Indian trawlers destroy marine ecosystems and local fishing gear, directly threatening small-scale fishermen and women involved in dry fish processing.

Unaddressed Environmental Concerns: Local residents faced difficulties formally raising environmental and community impacts of the Mannar windmill project due to a lack of governance and legal advocacy pathways.

Deeply Entrenched Norms against Widows: Widowed for 15 years, Reeta experienced severe social exclusion. Cultural norms barred widows from wearing the pottu (forehead spot) and treated them as "unlucky," excluding them from weddings and cultural rituals.

Intersectional Exclusion: Living with a disability and adapting her livelihood from dry fish production to sewing, Reeta lacked the institutional pathways and legal tools needed to structure grassroots grievances into rights-based demands.

Strategic Interventions: Rights-Based Advocacy and Cross-Border Networks

Through Chrysalis, the TRANSFORM Project, and the BRIDGE Project, Reeta completed comprehensive training in human rights, governance, leadership, and conflict sensitivity, deploying these skills across multiple sectors:

Cross-Border Fisheries Advocacy: Extended her advocacy beyond local forums to build cross-border civil society networks across countries, highlighting the systemic impact of bottom-trawling and demanding sustainable marine resource governance.

Challenging Discriminatory Norms: Made the deliberate personal decision to wear the pottu despite intense community pressure, transforming a visible mark of exclusion into an act of dignity and social norm resistance.

Community Legal Referral Resource: Functions as a grassroots legal gateway in Mannar, connecting victims of domestic violence, land disputes, and human rights violations with legal aid organizations and lawyers.

Multi-Organizational Leadership: Serves as President of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) for Colombo and Mannar, President of the Mannar District Disability Association (Velicham), and President of the Emil Nagar Women’s Rural Development Society (WRDS).

"The ill-treatment of a widow is considered as a social norm in my society... The empowerment created by Chrysalis gave me the strength to face the criticism of my community for keeping the 'spot'. Now I look more beautiful when I see the mirror. I am now confident in myself for challenging society for the discrimination against women."

— Reeta Vasanthi Kathiramalai, President, NAFSO & Mannar District Disability Association (Velicham)

Measurable Results and Intersectional Impact

Reeta’s applied leadership has achieved concrete community and structural results:

Sustained Institutional Platforms: Mobilizes grassroots voices through leadership roles across NAFSO, Velicham, and the local WRDS, securing representation for disabled persons and fisherfolk in governance discussions.

Environmental & Maritime Voice: Formally articulated community grievances regarding windmill projects and Indian trawlers in public protests, policy dialogues, and international civil society forums.

Reclaiming Widow Dignity: Inspired other widows across nearby villages to resist discriminatory cultural practices and participate actively in public life.

Grassroots Awareness & Protection: Regularly conducts community sessions on gender-based violence (GBV), disability rights, and legal protection across Mannar District.

Looking Ahead: Amplifying Marginalized Voices

Reeta Vasanthi’s journey demonstrates how equipping leaders facing multiple forms of marginalization creates powerful, multi-sector ripple effects. By linking rights-based training to fisheries, disability rights, and social norm change, the BRIDGE Project ensures that community development leaves no one behind.

In Sri Lanka’s post-war context, access to agricultural land is directly tied to economic independence, food security, and long-term community recovery. For war-affected communities in remote areas like Mullaitivu District, severe land scarcity limits families to day-labor work, entrenching cycles of poverty.

In Arumugathankulam, a small agricultural village in Kumulamunai, around 127 families returned from civil war displacement only to find themselves restricted to plots of one acre or less—insufficient for sustainable paddy or field crop farming. Ranisla, a local community leader and former Local Council Member, has spearheaded a multi-year advocacy campaign using rights-based mechanisms to secure agricultural land access for displaced and land-poor families.

The Challenge: Post-War Displacement, Abandoned Land, and Structural Barriers

The agricultural potential of Arumugathankulam remains heavily constrained despite its proximity to the Thannimurippu Tank water resources. The situation is closely tied to the neighboring village of Andankulam, historically a traditional Tamil farming village. In 1984, military operations forced Andankulam’s entire population—around 40 families—to flee, leaving its rich agricultural land abandoned and overgrown for over four decades.

Families displaced from Andankulam settled in Arumugathankulam without adequate land to resume farming. Without formal land release and official allocation mechanisms, these war-affected households remained dependent on low-wage daily labor, unable to build sustainable economic futures.

Strategic Interventions: Right to Information and Multi-Level Advocacy

Supported by Chrysalis through the TRANSFORM Project and the BRIDGE Programme, Ranisla transformed a historical resettlement grievance into a structured, rights-based economic claim:

Multi-Level Representation: Beginning in 2019, Ranisla submitted formal written requests to the Maritimepattu Divisional Secretary and advocated directly before the Governor of the Northern Province and Divisional Coordination Committee (DCC) forums.

RTI as an Accountability Tool: Filed strategic Right to Information (RTI) applications to obtain official documentation regarding land release status. This established a paper trail that converted institutional assurances into binding public commitments.

BRIDGE Town Hall Platforms: Utilized town hall sessions under the BRIDGE Programme to bring visibility to the landlessness of Arumugathankulam and Andankulam families before key state decision-makers.

Systematic Administrative Follow-Up: Maintained continuous institutional pressure across six years to ensure the bureaucratic process moved from policy discussions to formal government surveying.

"We waited more than forty years for this land. We are still waiting—but now we know the wait has an end... Through the Town Hall sessions and RTI, we placed our needs on the official record. That record cannot be erased, and we will follow it until the land is in our hands."

— Ranisla, Community Representative & Former Local Council Member

Measurable Results: Unlocking 67 Hectares for Livelihood Recovery

Ranisla’s persistent, multi-channel campaign has delivered direct, verifiable institutional progress:

Land Release Achieved (2023): Following sustained advocacy, the Department of Wildlife formally initiated the release of 67 hectares of land in Andankulam village that had been inaccessible for more than 42 years.

Formal Land Survey (2024): The Department of Survey completed the official boundary survey for the 67-hectare area.

Survey Plan Submission & Distribution Process (2025): The official survey plan was submitted to the Divisional Secretary, who confirmed that land distribution will proceed via a government land mobile service and local Grama Niladhari officers.

Impact on 125+ Families: Secured formal progress toward restoring agricultural livelihoods for approximately 125 to 127 war-affected families.

Looking Ahead: Securing Sustainable Livelihoods

Ranisla’s journey demonstrates how equipping local leaders with RTI tools, advocacy skills, and institutional access turns long-standing post-war grievances into actionable governance outcomes. By connecting land rights to economic recovery, the BRIDGE Programme continues to empower Northern Province communities to claim their rights and rebuild their lives.