Our Story
1987
A simple yet powerful belief sparked a movement: true development begins with the people. That belief gave birth to the Sri Lanka Canada Development Fund (SLCDF), a partnership with Canadian agencies and NGOs, supporting projects that fought poverty and inequality across the country.
SLCDF had grown beyond its roots, becoming a fully independent Sri Lankan organization, re branded as the Sri Lanka Centre for Development Facilitation—with one bold mission: to localize, sustain, and expand its vision of community-led change.
2002
SLCDF stands as a trusted facilitator of people-powered development. Through its presence in 18 districts in Sri Lanka , with a network of 330+ NGOs, and 3,300+ grassroots community-based organizations, we don’t just build connections—we nurture engines of change driven by communities themselves.
Today
At the heart of our work lies the Participatory Integrated District Development Programme (PIDDP), which unites NGOs and communities to co-create lasting, locally owned solutions. Alongside this, initiatives like the NGO National Action Front (NNAF) and the NGO Management Development Centre (NGOMDC) amplify voices and strengthen leadership across Sri Lanka’s civil society.
For nearly four decades, our journey has been about walking with communities—not leading them but empowering them to lead and implement the changes they want in their communities. Because we believe that sustainable futures are built not through charity, but through collaboration, connection, and confidence.
Networking
SLCDF supports a network of 18 district consortia, 332 local NGOs, and over 3,300 CBOs across Sri Lanka. It strengthens institutional and human capacity, providing crucial support to under-resourced local NGOs. By empowering disadvantaged communities and promoting local ownership, SLCDF fosters sustainable development without creating donor dependence.
Civic Engagement
For nearly three decades, SLCDF has been a key driver of Sri Lanka’s civil society movement, strengthening alliances among NGOs and civil society actors. By building capacity, promoting advocacy, and enabling participatory planning, SLCDF has empowered marginalized communities and improved lives. It also helped establish the NGO National Action Front (NNAF) and NGO Management Development Centre (NGOMDC) to support collective action and better NGO management.
SLCDF works directly with grassroots communities across 19 districts in Sri Lanka, promoting sustainable development through organic farming, water conservation, and alternative livelihoods. It supports vocational training, small business development, and savings groups that enable access to microfinance. By strengthening local networks and collective action, SLCDF empowers communities as drivers of lasting change.
Programme Process
SLCDF follows a participatory approach to project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Each project forms a Monitoring Committee—including beneficiaries, technical officers, and project holders—with SLCDF as an observer, to ensure timely, informed decisions. This participatory monitoring fosters ownership, accountability, and sustainability. Capacity building is supported through targeted training provided by the NGO Management Development Centre (NGOMDC).
Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
Our Approach
SLCDF’s Participatory Integrated District Development Programmes (PIDDPs), implemented over 17 years in 18 districts, focus on capacity building, good governance, human rights, peacebuilding, poverty reduction, and livelihoods—integrated with health, gender, environment, and skill development.
Using a three-tier participatory model, communities, NGOs, and District Consortia jointly plan and implement PIDDPs, ensuring local ownership and collaboration with government and private sectors. Linked nationally through the NGO National Action Front (NNAF), this approach enhances policy advocacy, reduces duplication, increases cost-effectiveness, and ensures transparency through participatory monitoring.
What We Stand For
CAPACITY BUILDING
Capacity building is the backbone of the SLCDF structure. Partner organizations benefit from targeted interventions that promote institutional and human capacity building initiatives. SLCDF also facilitates horizontal and vertical learning within this grassroots network and helps strengthen the collective efforts of civil society organizations at the national level.
GENDER EQUALITY
Equality of opportunity for both men and women is fundamental to eradicating poverty in Sri Lanka.
PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATIONS
SLCDF acts on local needs through collective programming, advocacy and policy formulation. Through dialogue and collective action, it builds solidarity among NGOs, the Government, and the private sector. SLCDF also helps local NGOs integrate isolated projects into collaborative Participatory Integrated District Development Programmes (PIDDP) for greater community impact.
EXPERIENCE
Our current policies, strategies and practices have been developed and refined since 1987. We value the ongoing learning process and enjoy working with other organizations to share experiences and to exchange lessons learned in the development sphere.
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
SLCDF empowers disadvantaged communities to undertake sustainable social and economic development that emphasizes equal participation of all members of society.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Protecting the natural environment, ensuring environmental responsibility, and conserving natural resources are integral to our development and advocacy work.
RESPECT
Poverty may reduce choices for people, but not their competence and abilities. SLCDF is dedicated to addressing the issue of poverty and inequality in society, at both the programme and project level, in order to achieve sustainable human development.
TRUST
SLCDF distributes donor funds to its intended beneficiaries. This creates a responsibility to ensure that SLCDF is transparent and accountable to both our donors and project beneficiaries.
Meet the People Driving Change
Founder
Dr. W.P.P. Abeydeera
Fondly known as Dr. Abey, he dedicated over 25 years to empowering Sri Lanka’s rural communities. From his early days as a workers’ rights advocate to becoming the first Programme Director of the Sri Lanka Canada Development Fund, he built bridges between local communities, civil society, and international partners.
With vision and determination, he founded SLCDF, nurturing over 3,500 community organizations, pioneering participatory development models, and giving voice to the marginalized. His passion never waned—travelling across the country to mentor, guide, and inspire, even in his final years.
Dr. Abey’s belief that “working together for a better tomorrow” remains at the heart of SLCDF. His legacy lives on in every empowered family, thriving village, and grassroots network he helped create.
Chairperson
Vidya Jyothi Emeritus Prof. Sarath Kotagama
Prof. Sarath Kotagama, Sri Lanka’s foremost ornithologist and environmental visionary, has dedicated his life to biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship. As former Director General of Wildlife Conservation and Professor Emeritus at the University of Colombo, his pioneering work has shaped national policies, protected ecosystems, and inspired generations.
Honored with the title Vidya Jyothi, he now serves as Chairperson of SLCDF’s Board of Management, bringing wisdom, scientific rigor, and unwavering commitment to sustainable, community-driven development. His legacy lives on through the countless individuals and communities he has empowered to protect nature and nurture a greener future.
Executive Director
With over 30 years of experience in Sri Lanka and South Asia, Mr. K.M. Thilakaratne is a seasoned development leader known for his strategic vision and people-centered approach. As Executive Director of SLCDF, he drives grassroots empowerment, inclusive governance, and sustainable, community-led development.
Having held senior leadership roles at ChildFund International in Sri Lanka and India, he brings expertise in program strategy, partnerships, and large-scale initiatives that strengthen civil society. Renowned for empowering teams with clarity and purpose, he continues to shape SLCDF’s mission of building resilient communities across the country.
Mr. K.M. Thilakaratne
Board of Management
Our Board unites a diverse group of professionals whose expertise, leadership, and commitment guide SLCDF with vision and integrity. Together, they provide the strategic direction and oversight that drive our mission forward.
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