Delivering on our commitment to equip rural communities with critical knowledge about their rights and entitlements under the law, iProbono’s team in Sri Lanka launched a legal awareness initiative at the Centre of Excellence in Seenigama in the Southern Province. The workshop was carried out in collaboration with the Foundation of Goodness, an organisation that works with communities on the margins of the formal justice system.
Too often, the justice system feels distant and unresponsive—especially for communities facing systemic barriers and a lack of accessible legal information. These workshops are a step toward changing that reality. Each module builds grassroots legal literacy, empowering individuals to assert their rights and seek justice with confidence.
During the training, our team led sessions on sexual and gender-based violence, labour rights, property offences, cyber violence and effectively engaging with justice institutions. These issues were identified through direct engagement with rural communities.
For participants, the sessions bridged the crucial gap between complex legal systems and the realities of daily life. They reported often living with injustices in silence, because they lacked access to information and support. “What stood out was gaining practical strategies to combat online violence and understanding how to approach the legal system with confidence,” said one participant.
The training sessions were led by Punardhi Wijesinghe, Program Officer, and Shevindri Manuel, Program Manager at iProbono. “The initiative marks a widening of our work and approach,” said Wijesinghe. “While we continue to support individuals through legal aid and systemic advocacy, these training sessions also deliver sustained community-level resilience. The law should protect everyone, but too often it feels out of reach for those who need it most. We’re here to change that.“
Vishmi Kawshalya, Assistant Director of the Centre of Excellence, Seenigama added, “Rural women often fear the law, it’s crucial to dispel that fear, safeguard the law, and ensure it becomes a tool of empowerment, not intimidation.” The Foundation for Goodness runs 22 such centres across Sri Lanka, supporting 67,000 beneficiaries through education, rural development and humanitarian aid, women’s empowerment, sports development and sustainability.
Through this collaboration, iProbono has delivered on its commitment to providing strategic legal resources to vulnerable communities.
