Voices Unleashed: Social Justice Koodams Sparking Change at the Grassroots in Post-War Sri Lanka

TSA began conceptualizing the Social Justice Koodams/Cooperatives (SJCs) in 2018-19 when Sri Lanka was grappling with a decade-long post-war socio-economic and political challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crises in the years that followed severely disrupted the daily lives of people from all ethnic backgrounds in the country. Launching a significant program of community mobilization centered on citizens’ rights during such turbulent times was daunting. Nevertheless, TSA pressed on with determination to create spaces for engagement in 19 areas across 10 districts in Sri Lanka, using the Right to Information (RTI) as a tool for mobilization.

Today, TSA has built a vibrant network of Social Justice Koodams that not only advocate for rights but have also initiated small economic ventures in these areas. Among them, two noteworthy examples are from Thamankaduwa in Polonnaruwa and Vattrapalai in Mullaitivu, which have successfully set up Coconut Oil production units. These enterprises contribute collectively to village development and symbolize the resilience and empowerment of the communities they live.