From War Zones to Boardrooms: What the Marginalized Taught Me About Leadership

Soon after the war ended, I was appointed to the Northern Province as an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skill Development. At that time, the wounds of conflict were still fresh, and the path to recovery had barely begun.

As the only Tamil officer in my role at the Ministry, this assignment was more than a professional responsibility—it was personal.

One of our Ministry's core mandates was to uplift disadvantaged communities, and that became our mission in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, two of the country's most affected districts.

Together with our Secretary, Chairman, and Director, we designed a full-scale socio-economic survey to gather data and rebuild trust and co-create solutions with the people. We collaborated with District Secretariats, INGOs, CBOs, Police, Chambers of Commerce, and many others. Coordinating this diverse set of stakeholders wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.

We trained local officers (SDOs) from each Divisional Secretariat in Kilinochchi District, and together, we reached over 4,000 individuals, listening, documenting, and analyzing the ground realities of post-war life.

One group that stood out in every village?

Women-headed households.

They were the backbone of survival, yet they faced the greatest struggles:

• No steady income
• Limited access to vocational training
• Inadequate healthcare
• Isolation and trauma

After completing the study, we compiled our findings. We developed targeted recommendations, which we presented at high-level boardrooms in Colombo, including to top ministry officials, UN agencies, and development partners.

These weren’t theoretical proposals—they were community-driven interventions that have since shaped actual programmes:

✅ Vocational training for tailoring, beauty culture, house wiring, coir and palmira-based industries

✅ The establishment of training centers within the villages, allowing women to learn while they earn

✅ On-the-job and part-time skill development for breadwinners

✅ Reviving traditional industries to create jobs from existing local resources

✅ Special focus on healthcare access and psychosocial support

✅ Career guidance and entrepreneurship coaching

✅ Cultural exchange and cross-community engagement to rebuild social trust

✅ Proposal for a Youth Farm in Pallikuda—turning war-torn land into opportunity hubs

These programs are now being implemented with various partners, thanks to the trust and participation of the communities themselves.

This experience taught me something I carry to every room I walk into:  Leadership isn’t about giving instructions from a desk. It’s about going to where people are, listening to their truth, and co-creating solutions that respect their dignity.

In development, leadership is not without responsibility, and never without community.

Let's connect if you’re working in post-conflict development, youth empowerment, or community-based planning. There’s still much work to do, and I believe in doing it together.

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