Sri Lanka
USA
Canada
India
UK
UAE
The Pathfinder Foundation has launched a dedicated repository aimed at documenting and preserving Sri Lanka’s peace initiatives undertaken over several decades to resolve the country’s separatist conflict.
Named the Repository for Sri Lanka Peace Initiatives, the archive was officially inaugurated by Mr. Erik Solheim, former Norwegian Special Envoy to the Sri Lanka peace process, former Minister of the Environment and International Development of Norway, and former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The inauguration took place at the invitation of Milinda Moragoda, Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, and Bernard Goonetilleke, its Chairman—both of whom played key roles as principal negotiators during various phases of the peace process.
Over the years, Sri Lanka has made multiple attempts to resolve the separatist conflict through dialogue and negotiations. Despite sustained local and international engagement, these initiatives were unable to bring about a final settlement. While records of the peace process exist across various institutions and publications—including those maintained by the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) and Norwegian facilitators—there has long been an absence of a single, comprehensive archive.
The newly launched repository aims to bridge this gap by systematically collecting and preserving documentation related to all peace initiatives, including negotiations that did not culminate in formal agreements. Drawing from both local and international sources, the repository seeks to provide a consolidated and accessible record of Sri Lanka’s efforts toward peace.
The Pathfinder Foundation stated that the initiative is intended not only to preserve historical records but also to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and future generations seeking to understand the complexities of Sri Lanka’s peace-building journey.
