2025
The Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna, has actively participated in the MUSTER project since 2024 with the Vice-Chancellor’s approval. Fifteen students divided into three research groups, supervised by senior academics, and completed studies addressing critical regional issues: accessibility challenges faced by persons with war-related disabilities, the role of social organizations in the resettlement of Muslims in Jaffna, and the transmission of folk theatre traditions to younger generations to foster cultural preservation and unity
Three research groups including fifteen students under the supervisions of three senior academics of the department engaged in this research process under the project of Mobilizing University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) in collaboration with National Peace Council of Sri Lanka (NPC). They have successfully completed three research studies and presented their finding in National level symposium organized by NPC as end of the MUSTER project on 20th of June at Daffodil Auditorium Center for Excellence Water and Sanitation, Ratmalane, Colombo.
A training program on Waste Segregation, Recycling, and Upcycling was organized by Save a Life for the Foliage Club members – students of the Department of Sociology – on February 2, 2025, in Department 108 Lecture Hall. This event was part of the “Green Futures – A Path to Climate Resilience and Sustainability” project, funded by the U.S. Embassy. Prof. Kanapathy Gajapathy served as the facilitator for the session, which was attended by nearly 40 students.
A workshop on Project Proposal Development was conducted for Students under the collaboration project of Fostering Climate Change Action Ambassadors: Empowering Youth for Climate Resilience with Janathakshan GTE Ltd on 12th and 13th February 2025 at Green Grass/ Valampuri Hotel, Jaffna. Prof. Nishara Fernando – University of Colombo and Dr. Manoj Ranaweera – University of Moratuwa served as resource persons. Students were gained the knowledge and skill on Climate Change and Sociology, how to develop research proposal and project proposal on grant basis through this sessions.
A progress review meeting on the ongoing research project, Mobilizing University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER), in collaboration with the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, was held at the Jaffna District Secretariat on January 24. The meeting was chaired by the Assistant District Secretary of Jaffna and attended by the District NGO Coordinator, District Social Integration Officer, District Cultural Officer, university coordinator, lecturers, and 15 students from the Department of Sociology.
On 14th February 2025, students and faculty from the Department of Social Work at Madras Christian College (MCC) visited the Department of Sociology. As part of this visit, a discussion was arranged between the academics and students at the Arts Faculty Seminar Hall. After brief introductions, Dr. (Mrs.) Bahirathy provided an overview of the need of Social Work in the Northern Province, focusing on themes of war, reconciliation, rehabilitation, and development as the request of the Students of MCC.