Therefore, using its own resources, SAPRI initiated a pilot project in three different districts, to promote inter-religious unity and create an awareness of its necessity, through a process of awareness raising and capacity building.
The project was conducted in Attanagalla, Negombo and Kurunegala, having different religious groups; varying degrees of political interest; and diverse employment and economic patterns.
While Attanagalla is predominantly an agricultural and industrial area, it has a politically sensitized population due to it having been the home of two former Prime Ministers, i.e. the late Hon. SWRD Bandaranaike and the late Hon. Sirimavo Bandaranaike. It is also the home of the country's first woman President, H.E. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The majority of the people are Buddhists while there is a presence of Muslims, Hindus and Christians.
Negombo has a majority of Catholics with Muslims comprising the second largest religious group and Buddhists the third. This has been a strong Catholic area and is considered the centre of catholic cultural activity in the country. Fishing is the main occupation as well as tourism which is a key source of income in Negombo.
Agriculture plays an important role in Kurunegala's economy. The area also has the presence of a large number of Defence Services personnel who were involved in the war against the LTTE, as such the people are highly motivated politically. There is a considerable segment of professionals visible as well. Buddhists comprise the larger percentage of the population while other religious groups too are present in smaller numbers.
Negombo and Kurunegala have been recognized as having the potential to be locations for religious disturbances.
The very first capacity building workshop on Religious Harmony was organized and hosted by SAPRI in Attanagalla in August 2014. Addressing the well attended event, SAPRI Chair, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, focused on the necessity to initiate efforts to build tolerance in society in view of the rapidly deteriorating peace and harmony due to religious disturbances. She expressed the hope that the workshop would not only lead to a change in mindsets and attitudes of the participants but also that the participants would take the lead in disseminating the message of harmony in their communities.
The Attanagalla workshop had the participation of senior Buddhist, Hindu, Islam and Christian religious leaders, professionals such as medical doctors, lawyers, school principals, school teachers, private sector members and other multi-stakeholders, with a gender and youth balance.
SAPRI selected Negombo as the venue for the next workshop held the following month, in September 2014, which also had the participation of multi-religious clergy, community leaders and multi-stakeholders. Negombo being a predominantly Catholic area, the majority of the participants were Catholics. There was a significant presence of Muslims too and Hindus and Buddhists were attending in somewhat smaller numbers.
The third capacity building workshop on Building Religious Harmony was held in Kurunegala at the Bishop Lakshman Wickramasinghe Memorial Centre. Active participation by youth, both male and female was significant on this occasion, while the usual attendance of religious and community leaders, professionals, the private sector and multi-stake holders, both women and men contributed to a lively one day workshop.
At the end of the capacity building workshops of the pilot project conducted in Attanagalla, Negombo and Kurunegala, it was encouraging to have comments and observations from participants who considered the exercise a great learning experience and an exposure to messages of equality and harmony, similarly articulated in all religions. While recognising the necessity for peaceful co-existence to achieve economic development, they emphasized the need to expand the programme to other districts and pledged to carry it forward in their own communities, work places and schools.
The demonstration of acceptance of the project by the people and their encouraging reaction to efforts of a multi-religious nature, together with the positive vibrations the project generated, gave confidence to SAPRI to continue with the work related to Building Religious Harmony more widely and deeply, across the country.
This resulted in the conduct of 38 capacity building workshops subsequently, in nine areas in different districts, in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
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