Here are some of the significant initiatives introduced by Mankind Sweden (N.G.O.) to Sri Lanka that did not achieve their intended outcomes:

1. Educational Support for Conflict-Affected Individuals

• Objective: During Sri Lanka's internal civil war, Mankind Sweden proposed an educational project to support 3,000 Sri Lankans annually over three years. The aim was to assist individuals from both sides of the conflict.
• Funding: Secured a pledge from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to cover 80% of the costs.
• Challenge: While the Sri Lankan government supported the project, the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) did not respond to the proposal. This lack of cooperation led to the project’s suspension.
• Outcome: Highlighted the challenges of implementing conflict-resolution projects amidst divided stakeholders. The initiative's potential for fostering reconciliation and providing support was not realized.

2. Promotion of Sri Lankan Manufactured Goods in Scandinavia

• Objective: In 2014, Mankind Sweden proposed to promote Sri Lankan goods in the Scandinavian market. A 1,535 sq. meter showroom and storage space in Töcksfors, Sweden, near the Norwegian border, were secured temporarily.
• Collaboration: Engaged with the Sri Lankan ambassador in Stockholm and sought participation from Sri Lankan manufacturers. A Swedish marketing company was prepared to facilitate sales on a joint venture basis.
• Challenge: Despite correspondence with the Sri Lankan Embassy, no manufacturing companies showed interest. After four months without participants, the showroom was returned to the property owners.
• Outcome: This was a missed opportunity for Sri Lankan manufacturers to gain a foothold in Scandinavia. The initiative emphasized the importance of proactive participation and timely decision-making to seize global opportunities.

These experiences underscore the complexities and hurdles in executing international development projects, particularly in politically or economically challenging contexts.

3. Toen de economie van Sri Lanka begon in te storten, werden de armen en kwetsbaren het zwaarst getroffen. Als reactie daarop lanceerden we een fondsenwervingsinitiatief om de burgers van Sri Lanka te ondersteunen. Om transparantie en verantwoording te waarborgen, werkten we samen met de Lions Club van Kelaniya om een betalingssysteem voor het project op te zetten. De Lions Club speelde een cruciale rol bij het opzetten van een banksysteem waarmee donateurs veilig konden bijdragen en het juiste gebruik van de fondsen voor hun beoogde doelen konden monitoren.

Onze inspanningen richtten zich op het betrekken van buitenlandse megabedrijven met een geschiedenis van succes. We ontvingen positieve reacties van verschillende potentiële supporters, maar zij uitten twee belangrijke zorgen voordat ze zich aan het project wilden verbinden:

Transparantie in het gebruik van fondsen: Ze wilden verzekerd zijn dat de buitenlandse valuta-donaties, die naar de Centrale Bank van Sri Lanka zouden worden gestuurd, niet aan corruptie onderhevig zouden zijn. Ze vroegen ook om duidelijkheid over hoe deze fondsen zouden worden gebruikt. Helaas waren we, gezien het gebrek aan verantwoording in eerdere regeringen, niet in staat om zulke garanties op dat moment te bieden.

Lokale en Diaspora-deelname: Ze wilden aanzienlijke steun zien van Sri Lankanen, zowel binnen het land als in de diaspora, evenals van weldoeners. Hun betrokkenheid zou vertrouwen in het initiatief signaleren en buitenlandse donateurs aanmoedigen om bij te dragen. Echter, op dat moment waren veel Sri Lankanen en diaspora-leden niet bereid om enige steun te bieden aan een project dat betalingen naar Sri Lanka omvatte. Hun frustratie kwam voort uit wijdverspreide woede over de politieke leiders van het land, wiens corruptie en wanbeheer hadden geleid tot de faillietverklaring van de natie en de instorting van de economie.

Deze ervaring benadrukte de kritieke behoefte om vertrouwen op te bouwen tussen de burgers, de diaspora en de internationale gemeenschap. Zonder transparantie, verantwoording en brede deelname zullen zelfs de meest goedbedoelde initiatieven aanzienlijke obstakels tegenkomen.

 INTRODUCTION

Democracy is not a state, it is an act. it is an ongoing act of participation and commitment. It is never guaranteed to any nation unless its people are willing to fight for it. In Sri Lanka, fear has discouraged the majority of citizens from engaging in politics, contributing to the erosion of democracy. This lack of involvement, along with the unwillingness to cooperate with and guide leaders, has deepened divisions within the democratic system.

We place our trust in the people of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan diaspora, and well-wishers to help bring our vision to life. By introducing and promoting Mankind Sweden (NGO) to as many potential supporters as possible, you can play a crucial role in spreading awareness and advancing this important initiative. Together, by working hand in hand with the President of Sri Lanka and his government, we can restore and strengthen democracy while also helping Sri Lanka overcome its current economic crisis.

A little bit of Sri Lankan history

Sri Lanka has long been referred to as a Paradise island on Earth in the past. The people of Sri Lanka have set an example to many progressive nations by electing the world’s first-ever women prime minister, Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, which shows a deep sense of their equality, opportunity and democratic nature. For the welfare of such stature, it comes as a bit of surprise and disappointment that a civil conflict occurred which lasted for almost three decades in Sri Lanka. The world has witnessed one of the bloodiest and most brutal human rights violations in this country.

It all started when the internal war broke up in Sri Lanka in 1983 and lasted for almost three decades has thrown the country into deep turmoil and now faces a daunting task to save itself from succumbing to the aforementioned crisis.

Sri Lanka has seen bloodshed and economical damage which has set the country on a back foot in terms of progression, both socially and economically. The Sri Lankan government finally put an end to the internal war in Sri Lanka in May 2009. Reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction programs have started since then and not forget the recent Easter Sunday terror attacks in April 2019 in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka had paid heavy losses of human lives and destroyed the country's economy very badly.

This great tragedy could have been avoided had the good people raised their voices and create the required awareness among the citizens of Sri Lanka against the civil outburst. Instead, their silence has paved the way for evil people to press their forces, causing chaos among the people and eventually leading to this unfortunate situation that changed the course of the nation’s progress. The aftermath of this civil outburst and internal war is the silence of these citizens against the wrongdoings of the bureaucracy and themselves alike.

At the time of civil outbursts and internal war, none could have estimated this level of destruction. And for this reason, we need to encourage the people of Sri Lanka to raise their voices in favour of the overall development of the nation instead of silent gestures toward the destructive forces that proved so costly. This is the grass-root foundation of democracy: OF the people, BY the people and FOR the people as phrased by Abraham Lincoln.

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

CONTENT

We at Mankind Sweden (N.G.O) are deeply passionate about the Sri Lankan diaspora, viewing them as a tremendous national asset rather than a loss of contributors.

Emigration has historically been a centrifugal force, dispersing people across the globe. However, the diaspora now serves as a convergent force, reconnecting individuals with their homeland.

We firmly believe that a passionate and loyal diaspora is vital for a country’s stability and success. The contributions of the diaspora extend across three critical areas: the flow of people, the flow of financial resources, and the flow of knowledge. Every country has access to these resources to varying degrees, and Sri Lanka is no exception.

The best hope for Sri Lanka lies in the active involvement of the Sri Lankan diaspora and other well-wishers. Their support is especially crucial for stabilizing the economy in the wake of the challenges posed by the Internal civil war, Tsunami, Easter sunday bomb blast and then the COVID-19 pandemic.

This endeavor is driven by emotion, visions, and dreams. To succeed, we must first dream and then act strategically. At Mankind Sweden (N.G.O), we recognize that while this work can be challenging, creating tensions or contradictions, it is non-competitive and essential. It thrives on ideas, creativity, talent, and innovation—qualities inherent in people who cross borders. Therefore, it is critical to develop strategies, policies, programs, and projects to connect with the diaspora and harness their potential. Without immediate action, we risk losing this extraordinary opportunity.

Sri Lanka, an island nation covering 65,610 square kilometers with a population of approximately 22 million, has a diaspora representing 15% - 20% of its population. If engaged effectively, the diaspora can become a valuable national resource.

To build trust and unity among Sri Lankans worldwide, we propose organizing exceptional events in music, heritage, sports, and culture. These events, part of what we call the "Magic of Diaspora" project, can strengthen the bonds among Sri Lankans and foster a sense of shared identity.

In today’s interconnected world, the true measure of power is connectedness. The information age has made knowledge and resources accessible at the flick of a switch, and we must use this advantage to promote equality, end discrimination and racism, and emphasize kindness, generosity, and empathy. Our shared humanity far outweighs differences in language, religion, or ethnicity.

Inaction allows individuals with personal political agendas to mislead the government. We, at Mankind Sweden (N.G.O), stand ready to work alongside the President of Sri Lanka, the government, and all political parties to achieve unity, prosperity, hope, and lasting peace for Sri Lanka.