In April 2025, after years of collaborating virtually on the Sri Lanka Barometer Public Opinion Survey, the SLB team finally stepped foot in Cape Town – the home of one of SLB’s key partners, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR). This wasn’t just another work trip. It felt like a homecoming.  

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SLB was built upon the foundation of the South African Reconciliation Barometer (SARB), so walking into IJR’s offices felt like visiting the birthplace of a vision. We had spent years exchanging ideas across screens, yet here we were, physically standing in the place where SARB first came to life over two decades ago.  

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We found ourselves in a room full of like-minded colleagues – colleagues whose entire mission revolved around social justice, reconciliation, and healing. Some of them had been there from the very beginning, shaping South Africa’s transition away from apartheid. Many of them were working on the SARB or on the AfroBarometer, a pan-African research network that implements reconciliation barometers in more than 40 African countries.

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Across the following days of knowledge exchange and conversation, one thing became clear: even though the SLB only came into being in 2018, our challenges and learnings were very similar to the SARB and AfroBarometer experiences. And that was reassuring. It made us realise that we are on the right path.

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A Part of the Bigger Picture

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We always knew that the SLB was part of a larger global network of reconciliation barometers. But this visit made it real. This work isn’t just about Sri Lanka – it’s part of a bigger effort towards understanding needs and priorities of citizens and making them heard in public discourse and policymaking. The barometer tool that the SLB is implementing in Sri Lanka had shaped policymaking across the African continent. And it has the same potential in Sri Lanka.  

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With this realisation also came a sense of responsibility: to use this tool thoughtfully and with care. To ensure that every data point we report, every insight we share, is meaningful and robust. We were fortunate to have the support of the SARB and Afrobarometer teams, who welcomed us openly and offered their guidance and collaboration as we moved forward.

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Lessons from South Africa

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Being in Cape Town, we had the chance to learn firsthand what happens when a country emerges from oppression.

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Walking through District Six, a space shaped by the history of forced removals under apartheid, was a powerful experience. The atmosphere in Cape Town carried a sense of resilience, shaped by its complex past and ongoing efforts toward transformation. The District Six Museum, built and sustained by the local community, reflected this commitment. Visiting Robben Island, we were guided by a former political prisoner, who shared his personal account of the struggle for a just, safe, and equal South Africa.

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What stood out most was how openly and intentionally South Africans engage with their difficult history. Not to dwell on the pain, but to acknowledge resilience, recognise progress, and foster dialogue. Their approach to truth-telling reflects an understanding that facing the past is a necessary step toward healing – and toward building a more inclusive future together.

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What This Means for Sri Lanka

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As Sri Lanka continues its journey toward healing and reconciliation, South Africa’s experience offers invaluable lessons. One key takeaway is that South Africa prioritised political transition and justice for the oppressed, while economic justice remains an ongoing challenge. The gap between economic privilege and deprivation remains stark today – a lingering effect of apartheid.  

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Sri Lanka, on the other hand, seems to have taken the opposite approach. Right after the war, economic recovery and infrastructure were prioritised, while political reconciliation and healing were given less attention. This contrast made one thing clear: true reconciliation requires balance – between the social, political, and economic.  

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We left Cape Town feeling inspired and with a renewed sense of purpose. The Sri Lanka Barometer Public Opinion Survey is a valuable tool with the potential to bring everyday citizens’ voices into the reconciliation discourse, helping shape governance to better reflect the needs of all communities.  

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South Africa’s experience reinforced that reconciliation is possible. We remain committed to using the SLB to support Sri Lanka’s progress toward a future where every citizen’s voice is heard, valued, and taken into account.

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