About Janawaboda Kendraya
Janawaboda Kendraya is dedicated to fostering empowerment, advocacy, reconciliation, and sustainable community development. We strive to create a society where unity, diversity, and progress flourish, ensuring dignity and opportunity for all.
Who We Are.
Services Offered by Janawaboda Kendraya
Community Empowerment & Participation
o Leadership training for women, youth, and marginalized groups.
o Village-level planning and budgeting sessions.
o Strengthening community-based organizations (CBOs). – moving towards a
People’s Movement.
Good Governance, Democracy & Accountability
o Civic education on local government and citizen rights.
o Citizen charters and public dialogues with local authorities.
o Support for participatory budgeting and planning.
Access to Basic Services
o Awareness on public service entitlements.
o Monitoring and accountability of service delivery (social audits).
o Support for school attendance, maternal health, housing schemes.
Livelihood Development & Economic Empowerment
o Skill development and vocational training.
o Microfinance and entrepreneurship support.
o Access to cooperatives, value chains, and markets.
Youth Engagement & Education
o Life skills, digital literacy, and leadership workshops.
o Volunteer youth networks in villages.
o Career guidance and mentoring programs.
Gender Equality & Women’s Leadership
o Political education for women.
o Support groups for domestic violence survivors.
o Campaigns on gender roles, rights, and equality.
Social Cohesion & Peacebuilding
o Inter-group dialogues and cultural exchanges.
o Inclusion of marginalized groups in development decisions.
o Conflict resolution training at the community level.
Climate Justice & Environmental Sustainability
o Climate adaptation training (water, farming, disaster prep).
o Community reforestation or organic farming initiatives.
o Youth-led environmental protection campaigns.
Voices from the Homeless People
“We are not voiceless — we have simply been unheard. Until now.”
Achievements of Janawabodaya
“I could only speak Tamil. When I first joined the Homeless Committee in Munnakkaraya, I used to stay silent and hide at the back because I was afraid to speak Sinhala in front of others.
But now, I am the chairperson of the Negombo United People’s Organization of the Homeless.
I stand up in Sinhala and speak for the rights of the homeless in front of any authority.
I raise my voice for a housing plan for Negombo and a housing policy for Sri Lanka.
It was Janawaboda Kendraya that gave me the courage and leadership to do this.”
“I didn’t even know how to write a single letter. But I had ideas, and the ability to express them. That ability was discovered and nurtured by Janawaboda Kendraya.
Today, I am confident to speak in front of officials and lead in committees and organizations.
It was Janawaboda Kendraya that led me into this leadership.”
“Twenty years ago, when I joined the National Union of Tsunami-Affected People, I was just an ordinary woman and housewife.
In 2008, we started building the People’s Movement for a Better World — and I became its chairperson.
Through Janawaboda Kendraya, I received leadership training that built my knowledge, attitudes, and skills. It gave me the strength to carry out social responsibilities.
Today, I am not just a housewife — I am a woman who can raise her voice for the suffering people of this country, both nationally and internationally.
I owe that empowerment to Janawaboda Kendraya.”
Hear from those we’ve impacted and empowered.
Every story shared strengthens our mission to empower marginalized communities and advocate for social justice.