Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) facilitated to establish citizens’ committees in three local bodies in the Galle District to build a closer linkage with the local government officials and the public in improving level of governance.
These have been established in the Ambalangoda Urban Council and Pradesheeya Sabhas of Yakkalamulla and Ambalangoda. Each committee constitutes around 30 community leaders. They include retired public servants, journalists, farmers, environmentalists and youth.
The membership of each society consists of villagers spread throughout the geographic reach of the local authority. The community leaders were identified through a process which included willingness to get involved with local government related work.
Soon TISL will be conducting capacity building workshops to inculcate the committee members with knowledge they may require to actively participate in council affairs and to impart knowledge to fellow tax payers. Anti- corruption, good governance, local government, and grievance redressed systems, citizens monitoring of development work, citizens engagement in local government will be be covered in the workshops.
The Committees are currently actively engaged in citizens’ mobilization programs.