UNDP Representative Engages with University Leadership on Advancing Higher Education
UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, Ms Azusa Kubota, visited the University on 18 July 2025 and had a productive meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, for a constructive dialogue on advancing key priorities in higher education, institutional accountability, and national development. The discussion focused on the importance of community engagement, transparent communication, and strong accountability mechanisms within university initiatives. It also included a review of the University’s COVID-19 response, emphasising the value of international collaboration, flexible funding mechanisms, and the pandemic’s lasting impact on research and education. Furthermore, the meeting addressed the evolving higher education landscape, underscoring the University’s vital role in national economic recovery and sustainable development. The Vice Chancellor underscored the importance of strategic partnerships, cross-institutional collaboration, and digital transformation, particularly in enhancing online learning and research infrastructure.
This meeting was also attended by Professor Kokila Konasinghe, Founding Director of the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy (CELP); Professor Wasantha Seneviratne, Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR); and Mr M A M Hakeem, Deputy Director of the same Centre, shared insights on legal education, clinical legal training, volunteerism, and student engagement. The University also shared key efforts to promote access to justice, including an upcoming nationwide student campaign.
The conversation further covered critical global priorities such as gender equality, AI-readiness in education, environmental sustainability, and youth engagement, particularly in the context of the upcoming UN Climate Change Dialogue.
