Community Leadership Development Programme
A Certificate Course in Community Leadership Development was launched by Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Communities for Progress (C4P II) project funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid).
This comprehensive certificate course will provide an opportunity to those who are serving or intending to serve as Community Based Organization (CBO) leaders, to obtain a broader understanding of their field and thereby improve the quality of their work. Covering theoretical modules along with field visits, the course will provide a thorough knowledge on issues and challenges faced by community based leaders who can be agents influencing change. During a course of 3 weeks, modules such as Participatory and Accountable CBO Management, Conflict Sensitivity Skills, Rural Sustainable Livelihood Development and Communication Skills for Community Leaders will be taught and discussed by a resource panel that includes Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake, Prof Ranjith Bandara, Dr. M Ganeshamoorthy, Prof Sumanasiri Liyanage, Dr. Sunil Wijesiriwardena and other renowned experts in the field.
The course is part of UNDP’s work with young men and women to empower them to become young leaders who are able to actively participate in the development process.
Commenting on the first batch of participants, Mr. Rajendrakumar Ganesarajah, the Assistant Country Director, UNDP highlighted the importance of involving young mem- bers from CBOs that had partnered with UNDP for the past three years. He further noted that “these organizations not only implemented community based development activities that were aimed at addressing socio-economic needs in the community, but also focused upon strengthening inter and intra community interaction and relationships among diverse communities”.
Professor Laksman Dissanayake, from the Department of Demography of the University of Colombo delivered the key note address and stressed upon the value of empowering community leadership and its potential in the process of economic development on the long run. “Undoubtedly the outcome of this programme will potentially be the catalyst in development moves particularly at the rural community level and SLF being the Centre for Leadership, Education and Training in Sri Lanka is simply proud to be the harbinger of such change” he further noted.
Speaking at the launch event, Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Chairman SLF stated “the launch is an important driving force that could extend the existing programmes of SLF to a broader reach within the country”. Prof. Bandara, further noted that “School Leadership Development Programmes, Teacher Training and Senior Public Officer Trainings could be further strengthened through this programme”.
Established by Act of Parliament and functioning autonomously under the purview of the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka, SLF, which is managed by a Board under the chairmanship of Prof. Ranjith Bandara carries out a number of study programmes that are registered under the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka; the Foundation caters to a wider spectrum of academic and professional interests.