Lecture on " Reconciling Divided Societies, Building Democracy and Good Governance

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a lecture titled "Reconciling Divided Societies, Building Democracy and Good Governance: Lessons from Sri Lanka" on 23 May 2017 at the BIISS Auditorium in Dhaka.

H. E. Mrs Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Member of the Global Leadership Foundation, delivered the lecture as the Guest Speaker. Major General A K M Abdur Rahman, ndc, psc, Director General of BIISS, delivered the welcome address, while Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Chairman of the Board of Governors, BIISS, chaired the session and delivered the closing remarks.

In her lecture, Mrs Kumaratunga shared Sri Lanka's experiences in post-conflict reconciliation, democratic consolidation, and the promotion of good governance following the country's prolonged civil conflict. Drawing upon her leadership experience, she discussed the complex challenges of rebuilding trust among divided communities and highlighted the importance of inclusive political processes, institutional reforms, and national dialogue in achieving lasting peace and stability.

The Guest Speaker reflected on the devastating consequences of nearly three decades of terrorism and armed conflict in Sri Lanka, describing terrorism as one of the most dehumanising and politically destabilising phenomena in South Asia. She emphasised that sustainable peace cannot be achieved solely through security measures, but requires addressing the underlying causes of violent extremism, including social marginalisation, economic deprivation, political exclusion, and inequality. According to her, effective reconciliation must be based on justice, equal opportunities, respect for diversity, and the protection of human rights.

Mrs Kumaratunga also highlighted the indispensable role of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law in fostering national unity and preventing future conflicts. She underscored the importance of accountable institutions, transparency, public participation, and inclusive development in building resilient societies capable of overcoming historical divisions. She further stressed that education, youth empowerment, and community engagement are vital components of long-term peacebuilding and democratic resilience.

The programme was attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, policymakers, academics, researchers, military officials, representatives of think tanks, media professionals, students from various universities, and representatives of international organisations. During the interactive discussion session, participants raised thoughtful questions and shared valuable comments, suggestions, and observations on post-conflict reconciliation, democratic governance, countering violent extremism, and regional peacebuilding.

The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of inclusive governance, dialogue, and reconciliation in addressing contemporary security challenges and promoting sustainable peace. The lecture provided valuable insights into Sri Lanka's post-conflict experience and offered important lessons for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners engaged in peacebuilding, democratic governance, and conflict resolution.