Years: 1998-2001 (Project run through Boston University.)

Funder: UNDP, http://www.undp.lk/transition/

Project: Decentralization of government (implementing a 1987 Constitutional amendment for greater powers to local provinces)

Bills Drafted: Health care/systems, Land Reform, Transportation systems/services, Insurance, Securities Market, Intellectual Property Rights, Child Labor

Participant number and learning method: 2 week national workshop with MoJ drafters and ministry staff. 13 people to BU four month program - Included 9 educators from provinces, 3 central (MoJ) drafters, and deputy director of Sri Lankan Institute for Development Administration (SLIDA)

Political Environment: Civil unrest disrupted the continuation of the project after 1999. Continued political problems have hindered further national level workshops for Parliament members and staff.

Current Status:

Workshop Training led in country by former participants:

As the Ministry of Justice central drafting office remains quite small (about 20 persons), all its drafting staff members now use the methodology and theory. The provincial educators who participated in the BU Residence Program have institutionalized training in the provinces to strengthen drafting of regulations on local issues to facilitate the on-going decentralization process. In addition, in cooperation with SLIDA, they have taken steps to equip provincial administrators with theory, methodology and techniques to draft bills for provincial legislation; for submssion to MoJ Central Drafting Office for final clearance. Deputy Director of SLIDA has organized 2 week courses as part of SLIDA’s curriculum to acquaint all national administrators with theory, methodology and techniques of drafting.

High-level government training: BU consultants conducted a one day session for interested MPs to explain theory and methodology. Training continues as part of SLIDA.

Training materials Nalin Abeysekere (former head of Sri Lanka's Central Drafting Office, now retired), co-authored Manual for Legislative Drafters and for Legislators with the Seidmans.

SLIDA has developed training materials for all its drafters based on the Seidman methodology and theory. All legislative drafting training includes these materials.