The Coalition for Inclusive Impact has delivered a specialized training initiative for Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi elected officials across five northern districts, focusing on governance capacity and financial management.
The Coalition for Inclusive Impact (CII) has completed a training program designed for Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) local government representatives serving in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu. The initiative brought together mayors, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and councillors from these districts to enhance their practical skills in managing local authorities.
The curriculum covered multiple dimensions of local governance, including revenue generation and financial sustainability, the development and enforcement of municipal by-laws, and the specific powers and responsibilities assigned to mayors and chairpersons. Participants also received instruction on administrative procedures and practical approaches to planning and implementing development projects. Additionally, sessions addressed how ITAK's political ideology could be operationalized through transparent and accountable local governance structures.
The training drew on expertise from multiple quarters, with legal and institutional guidance provided by Kosalai Mathan, a lecturer at the University of Jaffna's Department of Law, and Pradeep, representing local government federations. Senior ITAK officials attended the sessions, including party President C.V.K. Sivagnanam, General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran, and several parliamentary and committee members.
According to ITAK, strengthening the capacity of elected representatives is crucial for enabling northern local councils to fully exercise their statutory powers and deliver governance that is both effective and accountable to constituents.