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As enacted
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Part II · Mandate, Powers, Duties and Functions of the Reconciliation Office

10. Powers, duties and functions of the Reconciliation Office

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

The Reconciliation Office shall have the following powers, duties and functions: -

(a)

to make recommendations to the Government and relevant authorities, on matters relevant to building national unity and reconciliation in Sri Lanka and other matters specified in the mandate of the

Reconciliation Office;

(b)

to formulate a national policy on reconciliation and coexistence and assist the implementation of the same;

Office for National Unity and Reconciliation

(c)

to formulate and implement the national action plan on reconciliation and coexistence comprising of the programmes specified in the Schedule to this

Act;

(d)

to identify the persons or groups of persons aggrieved within the social layers of the Sri Lankan society due to ethnic, religious, linguistic, social, political and economic factors;

(e)

to develop affirmative action programmes for the persons or groups of persons referred to in paragraph (d) within the national action plan on reconciliation and coexistence;

(f)

to pursue the efforts towards reconciliation and the strengthening of national unity, and to address post-conflict concerns such as the return and resettlement of internally displaced people, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of concerned persons;

(g)

to launch public awareness and education campaigns on the national policy on reconciliation and coexistence and the national action plan;

(h)

to mainstream the values defined in the national policy on reconciliation and coexistence within

Government institutions and existing national initiatives through annual work plans;

(i)

to identify the constraints to national integration and to take suitable action based on discussion and consensus of the relevant stakeholders;

(j)

to collaborate with the Ministries, government departments and other institutions dealing with matters relating to reconciliation and peace building;

(k)

to review various strategies that are being implemented and due to be implemented with regard to the national integration and reconciliation and to assist in the settlement of issues in implementing such strategies;

(l)

to make recommendations to the Government and other relevant authorities for the consultation with relevant stakeholders on required policies and actions for national unity, reconciliation, coexistence and building a lasting peace;

(m)

to assist the relevant authorities -

(i)

to prepare and implement programmes on the promotion of national integration, reconciliation and coexistence and national harmony and to integrate such programmes into development plans at the district level;

(ii)

to implement the recommendations made by any reconciliation endeavour established under any written law, or any policy of the

Government, for the purpose of achieving national unity and reconciliation;

(iii)

to resolve issues that may emerge in the process of peace building and reconciliation by making proposals on appropriate solutions to such issues; and

(iv)

to seek funds for implementation of programmes and projects on national unity and reconciliation, conducted under this

Act;

Office for National Unity and Reconciliation

(n)

to liaise and coordinate with other local and foreign institutions, development partners and civil society with a view to promoting the objects of the

Act;

(o)

to assist, guide and facilitate peace and reconciliation programmes conducted by local organisations including community based organisations;

(p)

to make rules to ensure the effective functioning of the Reconciliation Office including its administration;

(q)

to make rules and issue guidelines from time to time which shall include gender and child responsive policies, to be followed by the staff of the Reconciliation Office relating to the exercise, performance and discharge of its powers, duties and functions;

(r)

to appoint, employ and dismiss officers and employees of the Reconciliation Office and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers and employees;

(s)

to request secondment of public officers to the

Reconciliation Office; and

(t)

to appoint committees and establish in addition to any unit or division specifically mentioned in this

Act, divisions and units as are required for the effective administration and functioning of the

Reconciliation Office and to delegate such powers and functions as are necessary to such committees, divisions and units.

Part III

Secretariat

Read on from Part III

Part IV

Finance and Reporting

Read on from Part IV

Part V

General

Read on from Part V

Schedules