Vavuniya University celebrates nurturing of foundations for sustainable peace

The proceedings of Vavuniya University’s special commemoration of the International Day of Peace coinciding with the 2nd year anniversary of the Harmony Centre, established alongside Vavuniya University being launched as an independent university. Pictures show Vavuniya University Vice Chancellor Mangaleswaran Thampoe making the welcome address at the event, Harmony Centre Director Mathiwathani Sasitharan making her special statements, Vice Chancellor Dr. Mangaleswaran Thampoe handing over the newly launched Harmony Centre annual newsletter to the Chief Guest at the International Peace Day event,  political specialist embassy of Japan Peace Researcher and Advisor Kana Moriwaki, cultural events at the ceremony, and University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo former Vice Chancellor Prof. Ariyarathne Kaluarachchi and Vavuniya University Department of English Language Teaching Head Dr. Jeyaseelan Gnanaseelan speaking at the panel discussion on pathways to sustainable peace through language, arts and media

On 20 September 2023 the Vavuniya University celebrated the International Day of Peace which was on 21 September, marking the second year of the institution functioning as an independent university and celebrating the second anniversary of its Harmony Centre which promotes integrated national solutions to economic stability, unity and sustainable development.  

Commemorating both, and the progress made by the university in initiating a range of globally and nationally relevant English medium university curricula that promote business creation, nature protection and project management, a panel discussion and cultural event was held by its Harmony Centre under the theme ‘Nurturing Foundations for Sustainable Peace’. The Chief Guests at the event included representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka, Peace Researcher and Advisor to the Embassy, Kana Moriwaki, and political specialist at the university, T. Balakumar. The event was graced by University of Vavuniya Vice Chancellor Prof. Mangaleswaran Thampoe who spoke about the mission of the university as it heads past the second year milestone and the vision of the Harmony Centre.

“The mission of the Vavuniya University is to be relevant to the local and global mission of sustainable development and harmony. We especially consider our role seriously within Sri Lanka to build up youth who will create resilience in economy and stability of peaceful existence,” Prof. MangaleswaranThampoe said highlighting the range of practical events conducted by the university and the Harmony Centre in the past two years, including the holding of the first international conference on Harmony and Reconciliation in January 2023. 

The Harmony Centre of the University of Vavuniya is headed by Department of Project Management Senior Academic Mathiwathany Sasitharan. The Vavuniya University is the only university in Sri Lanka to specifically focus on project management as a higher education academic discipline with 100% job placement of students soon after completion of studies. The university has a student population representing Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim students and a healthy linking of arts with subjects such as business studies where business faculty students are encouraged to perform theatre productions that promote national unity and progressive/sustainable development. 

Leading light in promoting harmony for prosperity and unity

“The Harmony Centre of the university functions with a strategic vision to be a leading light in promoting the concept of harmony for prosperity and unity of the country as well as the world. We are now working with many international academic institutions worldwide to promote stimulating thought processes and action integrating economy, arts, media, business studies and language with national and international peace,” Mathiwathany Sasitharan said. 

Creating a platform to discuss pathways for peace through language, media and arts/culture, the panel discussion was held on 20 September at the university premises, with the attendance of all faculty members, students and special guests, to create awareness and promote the concept of sustainable peace in the country.

The members of the panel were, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo and the former Head of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka, Prof. Ariyarathne Kaluarachchi, who is a practitioner in performing arts and promoter of the use of folklore and traditional knowledge for sustainable development and peace, Head of the Department of English Language Teaching of Vavuniya University  Dr. Jeyaseelan Gnanaseelan, who has for over 30 years been researching consistently on the potential of language and language rights as a route to the integration and progress of Sri Lanka, and senior journalist Ananth Palakidnar who has over 40 years experience in both English and Tamil medium journalism in Sri Lanka and has gained much insight through global exposure to international journalism. The panel was moderated by communication practitioner for peace building, Frances Bulathsinghala, who promotes multi sectorial integration of disciplines including traditional knowledge, spirituality and earth resource conservation, and protection for sustainable peace.

Dr. Jeyaseelan Gnanaseelan spoke on the importance of language proficiency, focusing on the national languages of Sri Lanka – Tamil and Sinhala with English as the link language. He used global examples of the practical relevance of language rights in policy making.

Prof. Ariyarathne Kaluarachchi spoke on the vast potential that arts and culture has to bring about genuine sustainable peace development in the world, beginning with the cultivating of a healthy attitude towards life and focused on the work he had done through positions he had held in the realm of arts and culture in Sri Lanka at university and state level as well as his current continued initiatives. 

Senior journalist Ananth Palakidnar drew attention on how peace exists even in the worst of situations because it exists in the minds of individuals, narrating humanistic experiences from his career which involved reporting from the field during the difficult saga of Sri Lanka which ended in 2009, tracing also the influence of media luminaries such as Tarzie Vitachi on Lankan journalism and journalists.

Language as pathway to peace

Focusing on language as pathways to peace, Dr. Jeyaseelan Gnanaseelan used global examples such as that of Singapore whose sensible national policies including strong attention to language rights, prevented social unrest, enabling the rise of the nation from third world to first. He also noted how Japan emerged as a strong promoter of peace after World War II. He explained the practical advantage of learning languages and how this has major significance in promoting communication and understanding between citizens of a nation. 

Prof. Kaluarachchi emphasising the role of arts and culture said it was the core secret of producing empathetic human beings with healthy attitudes, providing wisdom that would help Sri Lanka to develop a far reaching policy.

He said arts and culture has been used under his leadership to bring together students and academics of universities across the country.

“Arts create humane beings. It is paramount in creating humanistic attitudes. Focusing seriously on arts within the education sector could bring about far reaching innovation as it stimulates the human mind, freeing it from stress and creating a healthy mental balance. Above all it can promote the unity of the country,” Prof. Kaluarachchi added.

Media – a key vehicle for peace

Ananth Palakidnar highlighting how the media can be a key vehicle for peace even in unstable times drew on personal experiences from Sri Lanka’s troubled history where he narrated how he was provided safe transport to Colombo from the North by the then Jaffna Commanding Officer, General Gerry De Silva, amid an escalating cross fire at the height of the conflict in the 1990s.

“I later realised that I was sitting with so many bodies of young Sinhala soldiers. I could not sleep for days thinking about the meaninglessness of such death,” Palakidnar shared as he paid attention to the humanistic realm that is often missed in mass media.

“We are all talking of peace and looking for peace. Peace exists in everyday life. It is just that we need to highlight it more strongly,” said Palakidnar who was a longstanding senior journalist at the Sunday Observer and Ceylon Today, having begun his media career in 1981 Eelanadu, one of the oldest regional Tamil newspapers operating from Jaffna.

The celebration of the International Day of Peace and the commemoration of the second anniversary of the Vavuniya University was underscored by the launch of the university Harmony Centre newsletter and a series of cultural performances that included dance and drama. 

Prof. Kaluarachchi interacted with the cultural performers and offered them his congratulations for their exceptional aesthetic talent. 

Felicitations of students who had performed brilliantly at inter university competitions were highlighted at the occasion.