Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process

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The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) was created on February 6, 2002 by the Government of Sri Lanka to help manage the peace process during the Sri Lankan Civil War. It was led by Bernard Goonetilleke (2002–2004), Jayantha Dhanapala (2004–2005), Palitha Kohona (2006–2007), and Rajiva Wijesinha (2007–2009). On May 19, 2009, President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced the end of the war and the defeat of the LTTE, and SCOPP was shut down on July 31, 2009. SCOPP staff came from both public and private sectors and included experts in communications, diplomacy, economics, and law. In its first two years, SCOPP reported to the Prime Minister; after that, it reported to the President.

SCOPP’s mission was to coordinate, facilitate, and strengthen the peace process. Its officials talked with many parties, including government and private sector groups, civil society, charities, and line agencies. Its goals included helping implement government decisions, monitoring the ceasefire with the LTTE, providing research support for negotiations and for the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation, coordinating with local and international organizations on peace matters, monitoring the movement of people and goods to uncleared areas, and communicating information about the peace process to the media and the public. SCOPP updated policy issues, consulted political leaders on negotiation strategies, kept records of government policies and terrorism incidents, and served as a link between the public, civil society, and government through peace-building and reconciliation programs. It coordinated policy issues across government agencies, the security sector, ministries, diplomacy, and civil society, and shared information gathered from monitoring peace and human rights work.

SCOPP was organized into several divisions: Ceasefire Agreement Affairs (CFAA), Communications, Economics, Legal, and Operations and Logistics. CFAA handled work related to the Ceasefire Agreement, including monitoring the CFA, addressing LTTE violations, preparing government responses, producing reports on ceasefire violations, and coordinating with ministries, civil society, and local monitors for CFA issues. The Communications Division monitored media, guided NGOs and INGOs in communications programs, and supported other SCOPP divisions. The Economics Division promoted private-sector trade and investment in the north and east, supported donor coordination, resolved policy issues affecting donor-funded projects, and researched the economic aspects of governance and peace. The Legal Division managed legal aspects of the peace process, addressed domestic and international law, prepared documents, and liaised with civil society, embassies, and NGOs. The Operations and Logistics Division coordinated with security forces, monitored the security situation, analyzed incidents, and facilitated the movement of ceasefire monitors, facilitators, and the LTTE to and from uncleared areas.