Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process

Born out of a need to institutionalize the Peace Process, the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) was established on 6 February 2002 with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). The Secretariat was headed by Bernard Goonetilleke (2002-2004), Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala (2004-2005), Dr. Palitha Kohona (2006 - 2007) and by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha (2007 - 2009). On May 19, 2009, the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse officially claimed an end to the insurgency and the defeat of the LTTE,^[1] following which SCOPP will be winding up operations with effect from July 31, 2009.^[2]

SCOPP employees were drawn from both the private and public sectors in Sri Lanka and included specialists in Communications, Diplomacy, Economics, and Law.

For over two years since its inception, SCOPP was under the direct purview of the Prime Ministerof Sri Lanka though in its later years it came under the direct purview of the President of Sri Lanka.

SCOPP was primarily a coordinating and facilitating body of the Peace Process. It was the main instrument of the Government to consolidate and strengthen the Peace Process. SCOPP engaged in extensive consultations with all stakeholders involved in the Peace Process including the public and private sectors, civil society, donor community and line agencies on a regular basis.

The SCOPP Mandate

• Coordinate the implementation of decisions of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) on the Peace Process
• Liaise with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Norwegian facilitators
• Monitor the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) between the GOSL and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
• Provide research and logistical support to the GOSL delegation during political negotiations between the GOSL and the LTTE
• Liaise with government ministries, institutions, armed forces and the Police, UN agencies, international humanitarian organizations and national and international NGOs on matters pertaining to the Peace Process
• Monitor the free movement of people and goods to and from the uncleared areas
• Communicate issues relating to the Peace Process to the national / international media and the public through its Communications Division
• Provide logistical and technical support to the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation (NACPR)

Policy Division

• Directly involved in updating the policy issues pertaining to the SCOPP and the overall peace process.
• Develop concept papers and an overall policy for the SCOPP (no-administrative) in consultation with the other divisions. Focus on the focal point of the overall policy and strategy for SCOPP by compiling the policies of the Government on the peace process, media, terrorism, and related areas.
• Develop options and strategies for consideration by the political leadership on the overall direction of the peace process.
• Be the link between the general public, civil society, political initiatives and the Government through awareness programmes, educational programmes etc. on peace building and reconciliation.
• Develop concept papers relating to the peace process and related areas and share such information with the other Divisions at SCOPP and the political leadership where it is necessary.
• Inform and liaise with the political leadership on matters relating to the peace process and negotiation process and other related areas.
• Liaise with Government agencies, security sector, Ministries, Diplomatic sphere and civil society and other institutes in relation to policy issues.
• Compile discussion papers on substantive matters relating to peace talks and other elements of the negotiation process and share them with the Government negotiating team.
• Maintain close links and monitor institutes that are working on peace, conflict resolution, human rights and related areas and share relevant information with the political leadership and other Divisions at the SCOPP.
• Develop and implement a monitoring mechanism of International Experts’ Visits on relevant issues to the peace process and related areas and share such information with political leadership and other Divisions at the SCOPP.
• Analyse LTTE strategy and posture in relation to the peace process and share such analysis with political leadership and other Divisions at the SCOPP.
• Utilize expert knowledge on terrorism research initiatives taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Diplomatic Missions and the Academic institutes and formulate reports.

SCOPP Units

Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) Affairs

• Monitors the CFA and deals with issues pertaining to it
• Examines LTTE violations with reference to the provisions of the CFA and prepares representations to the SLMM as appropriate
• Prepares responses of the Government regarding alleged violations of the CFA by the Government of Sri Lanka
• Prepares reports based on the SLMM monthly statistics on ceasefire violations
• Coordinates with relevant ministries on ceasefire related issues
• Coordinates with civil society groups on matters relating to the peace process
• Channels representations by public on matters relevant to the CFA and the peace process to appropriate entities
• Liaises with GOSL Local Monitors to the SLMM on ceasefire related issues and hold quarterly meetings with Local Monitors

Communications

• Liaises with local and foreign media in disseminating information on the Peace Process
• Maintains the official SCOPP website www.peaceinsrilanka.lk in Sinhala, Tamil & English
• Monitors local and foreign media
• Guides and assists NGOs and INGOs in communications related Programmes
• Supports other SCOPP Divisions in communications related matters
• Coordinates the annual International Peace Day Activities
• Disseminates information on the Peace Process to individuals for educational purposes

Economics

• Promotes private sector trade and investment in the North and East
• Provides logistical & technical support for the North East Donor Coordination Cluster of the National Council for Economic Development (NCED). Cluster is chaired by the Secretary General of SCOPP
• Assists in identifying & resolving policy and implementation issues affecting donor-funded projects in the North and East
• Liaises with government agencies, donors and NGOs on peace-related development and reconciliation issues, especially in the North and East
• Undertakes research on economic dimensions of governance and peace-related issues

Legal

• Handles legal aspects relating to the political, economic and social dimensions of the peace process
• Addresses issues of domestic and international law, including human rights and constitutional law
• Prepares and reviews position papers, aides-memoires and other documents
• Corresponds and meets with concerned parties, including civil society organizations to obtain input on relevant aspects of the peace process
• Liaises with government entities, foreign embassies, NGOs and other organizations on legal matters related to the peace process

Operations and Logistics

• Liaise with Security Forces and Police on peace/security related issues
• Monitor current security situation on the ground
• Analyse possible national security-related developments
• Facilitate land, air and sea movements of the ceasefire monitors, facilitators and the LTTE to and from the uncleared areas

References

1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8056752.stm
2. http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=55080

External links

• The Official Website of SCOPP