The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) was formed in 1996 in the firm belief that the vital contribution of civil society to the public policy debate is in need of strengthening. CPA is committed to programs of research and advocacy through which public policy is critiqued, alternatives identified and disseminated. CPA is an independent, non-partisan organization which receives funds from international and bilateral funding agencies and foundations.
In the fulfillment of its mandate, CPA’s programming focusses on the mutually reinforcing areas of democratic governance and peace.
The Centre’s activities in the area of peace building includes:
- Policy oriented analyses of the current situation in Sri Lanka
- Applied and academic research into conflict and its transformation
- Proactive engagement at all levels (Tracks I, II and III) of conflict transformation and peace building processes
- Dimensions of human security specifically looking at human rights and humanitarian issues
- Implementing strategies for peace and governance reform using traditional and new media
- Polling on public attitudes towards peace, conflict and governance
- Conducting seminars and symposiums related to multi-level and multi-track peace processes, and current and comparative situations on conflict and peace.
- Peace advocacy and outreach activities with media, local civic organizations and institutions.
- Liaising with national and international organisations engaged in facilitating / mediating a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict.
- Conducting research on peace related issues with a view to informing policy makers and the general public in order to increase public debate.
Some of CPA's past projects and programmes
- Monitoring the Factors Affecting the Peace Process
- Elections and Minorities: Present Problems and Alternatives for the Future
- Power-Sharing in Sri Lanka, Constitutional and Political Documents 1926 – 2008
- Home away from Home: Children, displacement and protection in Sri Lanka, What Next?
- Trincomalee High Security Zone and Special Economic Zone 2008
- HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka: A Profile on Policy and Practice 2007
The Centre for Policy Alternatives is also involved in the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence and the excellent Groundviews project.
