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How a Sri Lankan mother became an unlikely negotiator for peace | The Negotiators

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January 21, 2026

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When her son went missing in Sri Lanka’s civil war, Visaka Dharmadasa began organizing other families of missing soldiers. What started as a search for answers led her and a small group of mothers across front lines to meet with the Tamil Tigers. Soon, Dharmadasa found herself shuttling messages between the Tigers and the Sri Lankan government, opening a rare channel of communication that helped build trust. In this episode, Dharmadasa reflects on loss, shuttle diplomacy, and why women’s participation in peace efforts still matters 25 years after U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325.

The Negotiators is a podcast from Doha Debates and Foreign Policy—and a special partner this season, the International Peace Institute.

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Sri LankasVisaka DharmadasaTamil Tigers Soon DharmadasaSri LankanUN Security Council ResolutionThe NegotiatorsForeign PolicyandInternational Peace Institute

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How a Sri Lankan mother became an unlikely negotiator for peace | The Negotiators · Doha Debates · Sentinel