As part of the ongoing efforts to promote a safe, inclusive, and harmonious university environment, the Harmony Centre initiated engagement with the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) to explore structured approaches for addressing ragging within the university system.
Following approval to initiate discussions, the Harmony Centre coordinated with ONUR to organize a focused interaction on anti-ragging strategies. This initiative aligns with the recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Quality Assurance, which emphasized the need to adopt best practices and develop context-specific mechanisms to effectively address ragging in universities.
The meeting was attended by Mr. P. Wijith Rohan Fernando (Chairperson of ONUR), Ms. D.M.S.N. Ariyawansa (Director General of ONUR), and Ms. P.A.C.N. Rupasinghe (Management Trainee of ONUR), along with representatives from universities.
Subsequently, ONUR confirmed an official visit to the University of Vavuniya on 25/Feb/2026, where discussions were scheduled with key stakeholders including university administrators, student affairs officers, and student representatives. The discussions focused on reviewing existing challenges related to ragging, identifying best practices adopted by other institutions, exploring policy guidance and institutional mechanisms, and promoting awareness, prevention, and reconciliation approaches.
The initiative brought together a wide range of university stakeholders, including proctors, deans, wardens, marshals, the deputy registrar (welfare), and representatives of the students’ union, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue.
This engagement marks an important step toward developing a structured and sustainable anti-ragging framework at the University of Vavuniya. It also reinforces the role of the Harmony Centre in fostering dialogue, reconciliation, and a culture of mutual respect within the university community.
