On October 1, 2004, the American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies (AISLS) brought together 30 participants from institutions of higher education in Sri Lanka and the United States, along with representatives from private donor agencies, the Ministry of Education, the USEF, and the US Embassy. The focus of the symposium was on faculty development and renewal, with a special emphasis on universities in Sri Lanka's war-torn north and east. The discussion focused on mentorship, resource development, and inter-university collaboration. Rehabilitating institutions of higher education in the war zone is seen as an important means of strengthening the rebels' commitment to peace, promoting inter-ethnic harmony, and offering militarized Tamil and Muslim youth options for peacetime employment. With increased attention and commitment, the participants envision a more prosperous future for Sri Lanka and its citizens.