Over a thousand visitors gain access to legal aid through the ‘Know Your Neethi’ Legal Aid & Awareness Camp in Badulla

Over a thousand visitors gain access to legal aid through the ‘Know Your Neethi’ Legal Aid & Awareness Camp in Badulla

The Support to Justice Sector (JURE) Project is embarking on the first of a series of legal aid and awareness camps designed to improve legal literacy and access to justice.

The ‘Know Your Neethi’ Legal Aid &Awareness Camp held on 1st and 2nd August 2025 at the Badulla Cricket Stadium, successfully brought together over a thousand community members for two days of legal education, support, and empowerment.

The programme was carried out by the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), funded by the European Union, jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sri Lanka, and facilitated by the Ministry of Justice.

The legal aid and awareness camp served as a dynamic, community-focused platform to promote legal literacy and access to justice. This initiative placed a strong emphasis on inclusivity and equity, actively engaging traditionally underserved populations, including women, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable and marginalized groups, ensuring their voices were heard and their rights addressed.

The event was also attended by key dignitaries including Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Justice; Ms. Ayesha Jinasena, President’s Counsel – Secretary to the Ministry of Justice; Hon. Governor J.M. Kapila Jayasekera, Governor of Uva Province; Hon. Nandana Hapugoda, Mayor of Badulla; Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka and Senior Professor Kolitha Bandara Wijesekara, Vice Chancellor – Uva Wellassa University.

Speaking about the event, Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Justice stated, “This camp is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that the law serves everyone in Sri Lanka – not just in theory, but in practice. By bringing legal education and services to communities in Badulla, we are taking concrete steps to dismantle barriers and build trust in our justice system.”

Over the two days, attendees had access to a variety of engaging and informative activities designed in local languages to demystify the legal system and connect people with relevant services. These included interactive activities and games to explain legal principles and processes; information booths managed by government agencies, offering guidance on legal entitlements and public assistance programmes; and legal aid clinics where individuals received free, one-on-one consultations with legal professionals on pressing issues such as land disputes, employment rights, language rights, family law, and cybercrime. Forum theatre performances brought everyday legal challenges to life through dramatized storytelling, making complex legal issues more understandable and relatable, while psychosocial support services were made available to assist individuals experiencing emotional distress related to their legal circumstances.

The ‘Know Your Neethi’ Legal Aid & Awareness Camp presented a unique space for dialogue between community members and institutional representatives, encouraging greater transparency, trust, and collaboration in the justice system. By connecting people directly with legal support services, the camp helped reduce barriers to justice, particularly in underserved areas. The regional camp is an extension of the ongoing ‘Know Your Neethi’ legal awareness campaign that was launched recently, reaching wider audiences through a dynamic hub of legal literacy, where viewers can access short films, expert interviews, and explainer videos in Sinhala and Tamil. Hosted across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, the campaign channel offers simplified, engaging content designed to make legal information accessible, relatable, and actionable.

H.E. Carmen Moreno, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Sri Lanka highlighted the commitment of the EU to fostering access to justice in Sri Lanka: “Building legal literacy is the first step toward people’s empowerment. It equips people with the tools to challenge injustice and to demand that the law is applied equally, fairly and transparently. When citizens are informed, systems improve and justice is more accessible. The right to participate becomes real, and everybody can make meaningful contributions to shape new laws and regulations”.

Ms. Azusa Kubota, UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka emphasized, “Access to justice is fundamental to achieving inclusive and sustainable development. Through initiatives like the ‘Know Your Neethi’ Legal Aid & Awareness Camp, UNDP is proud to work with partners to strengthen legal empowerment and uphold the rights of every individual in Sri Lanka. It is our sincere hope that the knowledge and tools tested and tried in Badulla will be replicated and scaled across the country for wider impact.”

The ‘Know Your Neethi’ Legal Aid & Awareness Camp is a part of the JURE project’s broader efforts to strengthen the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice. The initiative underscored the fundamental message that justice should not be a privilege reserved for the few but a right guaranteed for all.

Image Caption –

Image 1- Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Justice

Image 2- Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka

Image 3- High-level attendees touring the Know Your Neethi Legal Aid Camp in Badulla

Image 4- Ms. Ayesha Jinasena PC, Secretary, Ministry of Justice along with legal experts on an engaging and interactive discussion panel

Image 5- Key dignitaries at the legal aid and awareness camp which served as a dynamic, community-focused platform to promote legal literacy and access to justice.

About JURE:

The Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by UNDP and UNICEF Sri Lanka, facilitated by the Ministry of Justice. JURE takes a three-pronged approach to building a modern, efficient, and inclusive justice sector focused on accountability, transparency, efficiency and quality. Falling under UNDP’s flagship portfolio, JURE is a package of support to the justice sector in Sri Lanka and is being implemented in close consultation and partnership with key justice sector institutions and stakeholders.
About UNDP:

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
Learn more at www.undp.org/srilanka or follow us at @UNDPSriLanka

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