Amidst a joyous atmosphere, we marked the triumphant completion of the inaugural cohort of the Certificate Course on Nonviolent Communication and Media (NVCM) for the year 2022. Over the course of three impactful months, participants embarked on a transformative journey, honing their skills in nonviolent communication and media literacy. With unwavering dedication, they delved into the intricate relationship between communication and media, uncovering profound insights into countering harmful narratives and fostering genuine understanding. Their collective efforts have laid a robust foundation for the creation of a society steeped in compassion and empathy. To join this enlightening program, aspiring candidates fulfilled essential eligibility criteria. They demonstrated their readiness by being 18 years or older, completing junior secondary level education (Grade 11), and exhibiting proficiency in English through a credit pass (a “C” pass) in the GCE O/L English Language or a comparable examination. As the anticipation grew, interested individuals swiftly submitted meticulously filled applications, as admission was granted on a first-come, first-served basis, accommodating a maximum of 50 students. Remarkably, prior knowledge in nonviolent communication was not a prerequisite, making way for a diverse cohort of participants, all united by their shared enthusiasm for embarking on this transformative journey and exploring new horizons. With their invaluable dedication and contributions, they have undoubtedly set the stage for a brighter future, one where compassion and empathy thrive within our society.
The inauguration ceremony of the “Certificate Course on Nonviolent Communication and Media” was held virtually on the 20th of August 2022 from 0800 to 0900 hours.
The course was ceremoniously inaugurated with the Vice-Chancellor Major General Milinda Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc gracing the occasion as the chief guest. The inaugural event was participated by approximately 70 other guests including Prof. KAS Dhammika, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Ms. Himali Jinadasa, the Country Focal Point for Sri Lanka at the UNESCO Cluster Office for Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, Dr. Priyan Seneviratne representing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Kithsiri Amaratunga, Dean of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, Deans of other Faculties, Directors, Heads of Departments, Senior Academics, Senior Military Officers, the Panel of Lecturers of the Certificate Course, Project Consultants, Project and Course Coordinators, and a diverse group of course participants from a variety of fields, including media and journalism, news production, law enforcement, the military, medicine, engineering, banking and students from a variety of disciplines. The event was organized by the Department of Social Sciences (FMSH) and co-funded by the UNDP and European Union (EU). Following the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony, the first lecture of the course commenced immediately after a short break at 0910 hours.
The certificate programme in NVC and Media is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, and it consists of a series of lectures delivered by a distinguished panel of highly qualified academics. The course teaches authentic and deep communication skills and the importance of active listening, empathy, respect for others, and tolerance. This year’s course attracted over a thousand applicants, demonstrating that there is a large unmet demand for this new educational pathway of early prevention through nonviolent communication. The Department of Social Sciences takes pride in being able to continue disseminating knowledge to the important domain of nonviolent communication and responsible and ethical use of media, which is intrinsically interwoven with peace and harmony and thus with the national security as well. Further, KDU is pleased to be able to provide this course free of charge for the second consecutive year, making much-needed knowledge and training available to all, regardless of financial capability.
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| Ms. Ramanusha Poopalaratnam Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication (USA) B.A. (Kelaniya) Professional Qualification in Human Resource Management (PQHRM)
| Ms. Wimarshana Ranasinghe Facilitator – Peace Building and NVC B.A. (Kelaniya) Dip. in International Relations Cer. in International Relations (Colombo) Cer. in Computer Literacy (Kelaniya) Dip. in English (Oxford College of Business) Dip. in English (Aquainas Collage of Higher Studies) | Mr. Nuwan Herath Head of the Department of Social Sciences – FMSH, KDU and Humanities M.A. (Notre Dame, USA) M.A. (Tribhuvan, Nepal) B.A (1st Class) (Kelaniya, SL)
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| Major. JPWK Abeyawickrama Head of the Department of Languages – FMSH, KDU M. A. (Warwick, UK) M. A. (Kelaniya) B. A. (Sri Jayawardenapura) ASTHE (Colombo) with SEDA (UK) CELTA (Cambridge) CTHE (Colombo) Specialist English Trained(Peradeniya) BALIC (TX-USA) ICELT (Cambridge) TKT (Cambridge) | Ms. Vasuki Jayasinghe Senior Lecturer Grade – Department of Languages, FMSH, KDU M.A. (Tribhuvan, Nepal) M.A. (Kelaniya) B.A. (Hons) (Kelaniya) Dip. in Teacher Training (LTTC, UK) Teacher Educator as an Educational Technologist (OUSL) | Mr. Indika Perera Attorney-at-Law / Facilitator / Program Director / Lecturer M. A. (York, UK)
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| Dr. Lakshika Liyanage Senior Lecturer – Department of Social Sciences, FMSH, KDU Director – Center for Gender Equity and Equality, KDU Ph.D. (Durham, UK) M. A. (Durham, UK) B.A. (Hons) (Peradeniya) Dip. in Psycholgy & Counselling |
The certificate awarding ceremony and exhibition of the 2nd Certificate Course on Nonviolent Communication and Media organized by the Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Management, Social Sciences, and Humanities was held on the 30th of January 2023 at the Main Auditorium of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS).
The occasion was graced by the Chief Guest Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, the President of the Sarvodaya Shramadhana Movement, the Guests of Honour Mr. Lars Bredal, Deputy Head of Mission and the Head of Political, Press and Information Section of the European Union Mission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and the Vice-Chancellor Major General Milinda Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc.
The awarding ceremony was also participated by university administrators, academia, and media representatives including Rector (Metropolitan Campus) Major General Lal Gunesakara, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Defence and Administration) Brigadier Chinthaka Wickramasinghe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. KAS Dhammika, Director of MTV Channel Pvt Limited and MBC Networks (Pvt) Limited – Sirasa TV Mr. Ashoka Dias, Digital Editor of Maubima Newspaper Mr. Kumudu Jayawardena, Film Director Sanjaya Nirmal, Reconciliation and Peace Building Team representative from UNDP Mr. Fahim Aslam, Dean of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities Mr. Kithsiri Amaratunga, Deans of other Faculties, Directors, Heads of Departments, Senior Academics, Senior Military Officers, the Panel of Lecturers of the Certificate Course, and Certificate Recipients from a variety of fields, including media and journalism, news production, law enforcement, the military, medicine, engineering, banking and students from a variety of disciplines.
The first certificate course was funded by the UNDP and EU in the year 2021. The Department of Social Sciences continued this initiative in 2022 for the second consecutive year with the main objective of promoting peace and nonviolence among group practitioners and users of media in an effort to generate congeniality throughout the course.
Certificates were awarded to 35 students who successfully completed the Certificate course by the chief guest Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne. Parallel to the certificate awarding ceremony, an awareness exhibition was organized by the participants of the certificate programme. The students incorporated their learning from the course into exhibits which were displayed at the FGSS lobby. To appreciate their effort, best exhibit awards were given to the best video, best poster / banner, best poem/ story, and best art for their exemplary creations.
The chief guest, the guest of honour Mr. Lars Bredal and film director Mr. Sanjaya Nirmal shared their valuable insights at the ceremony. The Department of Social Sciences takes pride in being able to continue disseminating knowledge to the important domain of nonviolent communication and responsible and ethical use of media, which is intrinsically interwoven with peace and harmony and thus with the national security as well.
