Academic Awareness Session on Gender Equality & Legal Rights, 2026

Faculty of Social Sciences

Under the University By-laws promulgated for the Inquiry and Redressal of Harassment and Violence in the Working and Learning Environment (Sexual / Gender / General) at the University of Kelaniya, the Centre for Gender Studies initiated a special awareness project to enhance understanding of these by-laws and issues related to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) within the university community.

The project was launched under the theme “Give Knowledge to Gain Equality” with the objective of raising awareness among academic staff, non-academic staff, undergraduate students, and postgraduate students regarding gender equality, legal rights, and mechanisms available for addressing harassment and violence within the university environment.

As the first phase of this initiative, the Centre for Gender Studies, University of Kelaniya, organized an Academic Awareness Session on Gender Equality & Legal Rights for the academic staff members of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The session aimed to enhance awareness and understanding of SGBV and related legal rights among Senior Professors, Professors, Senior Lecturers Grade I and II, Lecturers, Probationary Lecturers, Temporary Lecturers, Assistant Lecturers, and Demonstrators of the Faculty.

The programme was successfully held on 7th May 2026 at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya.

The programme featured the distinguished resource persons: Senior Professor M. A. D. S. J. S. Niriella, from the Department of Public & International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, and Professor E. A. D. A. Edirisinghe, Chair – Advisory Board, Centre for Gender Studies, University of Kelaniya.

The event was graced by Professor Chaminda Abeysinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, as the Special Guest. The session was attended by distinguished academic staff members of the Faculty of Social Sciences, creating a valuable platform for academic dialogue and awareness on gender equality and legal rights.

Representing the Centre for Gender Studies were Professor Sulochani Ramanayake, Acting Director; Dr Amila Jeewandara, Acting Deputy Director; Senior Lecturer Samanthika Priyadarshani, Faculty Representative of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Coordinator of the Event; and Ms Harshani Karunanayake, Coordinator of the Centre.

The programme was organised by the Centre for Gender Studies, University of Kelaniya, as part of its continued commitment to promoting gender equality, social awareness, and legal literacy within the university community.