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Background – Since 2000 years conflicts between the Tamils and Singhalese, both residents on Sri Lanka have raged again and again. Their last bloody climax started with the civil war in 1983. At the time the rebellious movement “Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam” raised against the government o create an independent state for the Tamil minority. Although there have been phases of relative peace since, the conflict never ceased to exist.

The project – Swisscontact contributes to the development of the private sector in the eastern part of Sri Lanka since 2000. The program “Development and Peace for Sri Lanka” is financed by the DEZA (Swiss authority for development and cooperation) and is implemented together with Helvetas. We empower the vocational education and the development of micro enterprises in the former conflict zone.
The Analysis has shown that economical disadvantages and lacking perspectives are he biggest danger for anew eruption of the conflict. By improving the employment market opportunities and supporting independent young entrepreneurs Swisscontact tries to allay the potential for conflict in the multicultural province.

The project gets youth with different ethnic background together in half-year programs to prepare them for their professional life. Besides the career-specific knowledge social skills are communicated. Furthermore the youth have the possibility to socialise and to overcome ethnic barriers. As they achieve an apprenticeship at the same time and thereby have a chance on a safe employment they are less vulnerable to radical groups.