“We make the road while we are walking’ was our motto when group of us thought to do something during the time war started to escalate in Sri Lanka. From my school days I was part of a group that engaged in Gandhian movement and it inspired me to continue as a social activist who was fully committed to peace and co-existence in my country and region.”

Dr. Harsha Kumara Navaratne

Harsha Navartne serves as Chairman of Sevalanka Foundation in Sri Lanka and as Chairman of the executive committee of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists.

After graduating from St Xavier University, Harsha became a national organizer of Sri Lanka’s largest social movement, Sarvodaya. After working with Sarvodaya for nearly two decades, he resigned to serve as a Senior Advisor to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka on the National Poverty Alleviation program. Following this experience, Harsha joined a team of like-minded activists to form Sevalanka Foundation, where for the last decades he has helped lead its development work.

Sevalanka carries out a wide range of development activities throughout Sri Lanka including poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, nutrition and food security, agriculture and fisheries support services, psychosocial support, micro credit, and market linkages for community products. During the war, Sevalanka was the only national organization allowed to work inside the conflict zone alongside the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. During the war and post-war periods, Sevalanka became deeply involved in relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation activities.

Through Sevalanka, Harsha works with local communities and assists them when internally displaced. After their resettlement, Sevalanka continues to stand with them until their lives are normalised and they are progressing towards sustainable long-term development. Witnessing the critical relationship between development and peace, these experiences have led Harsha and others at Sevalanka to initiate peacebuilding activities in collaboration with other Sri Lankan organizations seeking to establish long- term sustainable peace. This work, acknowledges Harsha, is a journey and there is still a long way to go. But he is committed to the long haul. Harsha notes that being around such an encouraging team of community builders gives him the courage and passion to join together with others in his region as an engaged Buddhist and to work with other faith based organizations and individuals around-the-world.