The Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), chaired by former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, in partnership with University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced a new subject on Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation effective 2018, under the programme “National Unity and Reconciliation through Higher Education”. The MOU between ONUR and UGC was signed this week with the participation of Senior Officials of 7 selected Universities and Higher Educational Institutes in Sri Lanka and Deans from all the Social Science Faculties across the island.
It has been eight years since the Twenty-six-year long war ended. However, issues which relate to reconciliation, social harmony and religious coexistence still prevail among diverse communities in the society, as a thorny reminder that healing of hearts and building unity is a longer process. In this regard youth are considered one of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society who can play a vital role as a catalyst for positive change for sustainable peace in Sri Lanka.
Therefore the joint effort by ONUR and UGC to introduce a new curriculum module on conflict transformation and reconciliation through the University system is a significant step in medium to long term efforts on reconciliation by the Government. The objective of launching this programme in universities is to initiate a dialogue among the University students belonging to different religious communities, leading to social cohesion and peaceful co-existence in the multi-religious and multi-ethnic society in Sri Lanka.
The seven universities and higher education institutes selected for the first phase of this programme are University of Ruhuna, University of Jaffna, South Eastern University, Visual and Performing Arts University, Swami Vipulananda Institute of Eastern University, Sri Lanka Bikshu University and Jamiah Naleemiah Institute.
The implementation of the programme will be governed by a steering committee which is formulated with the participation of University representatives.