Compliance with national and international agreements, laws, etc., 

There are a number of national laws that the University of Peradeniya is complying with in order to meet the aims and objectives of SDG 16. Some of the main laws in this regard are the following:

1. The Constitution of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

2. The domestic laws relating to the protection of fundamental rights, including the Right to Information Act of 2016, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act of 2007, the Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act of 1998, etc; and the numerous international human rights  instruments Sri Lanka is a party to, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1996), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)  

3. The local and international laws relating to bribery and corruption, including the Bribery Act of 1954 (as amended) and the UN Convention against Corruption of 2003

Internal Policies and Circulars

1. Policy on Sexual or Gender-Based Harrasment and Sexual Violence 

2. Policy on Students with Disabilities 

3. Policy on Curbing Ragging 

Programs

The University of Peradeniya conducts numerous awareness programmes in the form of public lectures/seminars and workshops on topics relating to SDG 16. These includes public seminars on the rule of law and access to justice, the protection of human rights, the prevention of ragging, the prevention of sexual harassment and gender-based violence.   

Education

The University of Peradeniya offers numerous degree programmes, at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, which are broadly related to the promotion of the main elements of SDG 16. For example, the Faculty of Arts contains numerous Departments which offer degree programmes relating to SDG 16. The Department of Political Science offers courses in political science, public administration, human rights, and gender and politics. The Department of Law offers the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme, and offers courses on constitutional law, administration law, human rights law, and alternative dispute resolution, which relate to SDG 16. The Faculty of Management offers the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), and courses on conflict management, cross-cultural management, public sector accounting, public sector management which relate to SDG 16. Also, the PGIHS offers postgraduate degree programmes which relate to SDG 16. Some of the programmes are: Master of Human Rights and Multiculturalism (MHRM); Master of Social Work (MSW); Master of Development Practice (MDP). 

In addition to the general training programmes conducted by the Staff Development Centre (SDC) of the University, for Academic and Non-Academic Staff, the University offers the following courses and Diploma Programmes which relate more specifically to SDG 16:

• Certificate course in Human Rights and the Diploma in Human Rights (offered by the Centre for the Study of Human Rights).

• Diploma in Forensic Medicine for Lawyers and Judges (offered by the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine). 

Research Communications

The research publications of the University of Peradeniya which broadly relate to SDG 16 are:

• The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities (SLJH)

• The Sri Lanka Journal on Forensic Medicine, Science and Law

• The Sri Lanka Journal of Sociology

• The Peradeniya Law Journal (which commenced in 2023)

In addition to the above, the annual Proceedings of the iPURSE Conference also contain submissions relating to SDG 16-related topics. 

In addition to the above, Peradeniya academics have published their scientific work in relation to SDG 16 in a number of international journals such as Third World Quarterly, Contemporary South Asia, etc. 

Outreach Activities

The University especially through the Departments in the Faculty of Arts, such as the Departments of Political Science and Law conducts outreach activities on topics relating to SDG 16 (example: ‘Law Week’ organized by the Department of Law). Department of Political Science conducts training programs for undergraduates on accountability, transparency and governance quality along with civil society organizations to make students aware and sensitive on SDG 16.

Awareness Programs

The University of Peradeniya conducts numerous awareness programs in the form of public lectures/seminars and workshops on topics relating to SDG 16. These includes public seminars on the rule of law and access to justice, the protection of human rights, the prevention of ragging, the prevention of sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

External Partnerships