For a more inclusive Sri Lankan society

Sri Lanka is a country with a rich history of diverse groups, languages and cultures. In its support for democracy FES brings together the different ethnic groups, men and women, young and old, from different provinces and social backgrounds, to discuss current economic and social problems. FES strongly believes that by including all segments of society in the debate, stability and harmony in governance can be enhanced. The poor and particularly poor women often lack status and influence to effectively participate in decision-making. FES thus puts a strong emphasis on issues of economic and social justice, and insists that these topics have to remain on the public agenda.

Through its Open Forum series, FES aims to stimulate public debate by creating opportunities for discussions on political, social and economic developments in Sri Lanka and Asia. Since 2008, FES has organized ten Fora, with topics ranging from economic issues such as “Foreign Direct Investment for Growth and Equity in Sri Lanka – Challenges, Risks, and Opportunities” to educational issues such as "Free Schooling- a successful Model then but a Myth now?" Open Fora have also been conducted in the Hill country where the disadvantaged plantation workers live, on topics such as youth unemployment and garbage problem in Nuwara Eliya.

FES has a longstanding relationship with the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), a statutory body that builds capacity for democratic development and social progress through adult education. Its mother body, t Sri Lanka Foundation has been founded by the Sri Lankan Government with the assistance of FES in 1973. In 2010, SLFI courses that were supported by FES included Women’s participation in decision-making processes, "Good Governance through Service Excellence", and "Conflict Resolution in the Work Place". 100 public officials of two provinces have been trained in good governance in 2010.

Sri Lanka, though classified as a middle income country, has huge discrepancies in GDP across regions, with dismal poverty remaining in some sectors and regions of the country. By supporting the internet-based Poverty Portal, FES aims to make comprehensive information on poverty easily accessible to practitioners and researchers, enabling them to set up policies and practices that will include the poor. The Poverty Portal is hosted by the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) and has a variety of innovative and interactive features.