In the fulfillment of its mandate, CPA's programming focusses on the mutually reinforcing areas of democratic governance and peace.

The Centre's activities in the area of peace building includes:

• Policy oriented analyses of the current situation in Sri Lanka
• Applied and academic research into conflict and its transformation
• Proactive engagement at all levels (Tracks I, II and III) of conflict transformation and peace building processes
  
• Dimensions of human security specifically looking at human rights and humanitarian issues
• Implementing strategies for peace and governance reform using traditional and new media
• Polling on public attitudes towards peace, conflict and governance
• Conducting seminars and symposiums related to multi-level and multi-track peace processes, and current and comparative situations on conflict and peace.
• Peace advocacy and outreach activities with media, local civic organizations and institutions.
• Liaising with national and international organisations engaged in facilitating / mediating a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict.
• Conducting research on peace related issues with a view to informing policy makers and the general public in order to increase public debate.