Department of Political Science & Public Policy-University of Colombo

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy recently held a workshop to analyze the data gathered during the Annual field training. The workshop's main objective was to perform an in-depth analysis of the data using the software SPSS. This workshop was a continuation of a previous session, focused on further exploring the functionalities of SPSS software and the goal was to improve students' skills and confidence in utilizing SPSS for data analysis. Through this workshop, the students were able to develop a deeper understanding of the information collected during the field training, build meaningful conclusions, and potentially make recommendations based on their findings.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy recently concluded its 3-day Annual field training in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and USAID. The final day of the training was dedicated to field research, where final year undergraduates analyzed the data they had collected over the first two days of the field training. During this session, participants worked in groups to analyze the data they had collected on the electoral process and political participation. Each group then created a poster presentation to visually represent their findings. The participants showcased their research findings through charts, graphs, and summaries of key findings. Participants in the Annual field training were able to acquire practical skills in data analysis and presentation, while also emphasizing the crucial role of field research in informing evidence-based policymaking in public policy.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy recently organized its 3-day Annual field training in collaboration with IFES and USAID. The second day of the program began with interactive focus group discussions (FGDs) involving professionals and local politicians. These discussions aimed to gather insights and perspectives on various election-related topics, including voter engagement, political participation, and electoral processes. This was followed by a field research exercise designed to assess the levels of awareness among the general community regarding election participation and the electoral process. Through questionnaire and observations conducted in the field, undergraduates were able to gather valuable data and perspectives on the knowledge, attitudes, and challenges related to elections within the community.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy recently organized its 3-day Annual field training in collaboration with IFES and USAID. The first day took place at the District Secretariat office in Ratnapura.The first session was conducted by the Assistant Commissioner of Elections in Ratnapura. This lecture provided valuable insights into the electoral processes and the role of the elections commission in ensuring fair and transparent elections. Participants had the opportunity to raise questions and engage in discussions with the Assistant Commissioner, deepening their understanding of the electoral system in Sri Lanka. Following the lecture, the training also included focus group discussions (FGDs) with civil society organizations. These discussions allowed participants to hear directly from local civil society groups about their perspectives on governance, democracy, and political participation in the region. The first day of the field training was a highly informative and engaging experience for all participants. It provided a unique opportunity to learn from local experts, engage with key stakeholders, and deepen understanding about the electoral process.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy conducted a questionnaire designing session as part of a Research Guide initiative for fourth year undergraduates. During the session, participants were guided on the principles and techniques of constructing effective and informative questions for research purposes. The session aimed to enhance participants' skills in formulating clear, concise, and relevant questions to gather valuable data for their final year research.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy recently hosted a 2-day workshop focused on improving academic writing skills. The workshop was led by Dr. Krishantha Fedricks, a Senior Lecturer from the Department of Sinhala, University of Colombo. Participants had the opportunity to enhance their understanding and proficiency in academic writing through these sessions. The workshop aimed to equip attendees with the necessary tools and techniques to effectively present their research clearly and compellingly.

The workshop on "Managing References in Academic Writing" was Conducted for third year undergraduate students in the Department of Political Science and Public Policy. This workshop aimed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage references in their academic writings effectively. Through this workshop, students learned the significance of accurately crediting sources, preventing unintentional plagiarism, and how to enhance the overall quality of their academic writing through proper referencing techniques.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy held a workshop on statistical modeling via SPSS for fourth-year undergraduates. The workshop aimed to provide undergraduates with a comprehensive understanding of statistical modeling techniques and how to use the SPSS software for conducting data analysis. Participants learned how to import data, perform descriptive and inferential statistics, create and interpret models, and generate meaningful insights from their data. The workshop was interactive, with hands-on exercises and demonstrations to ensure that students gained practical experience in using SPSS for statistical analysis.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy recently organized a Guest lecture on the process of conducting a literature review. The lecture was specifically organized for undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Political Science degree in the department. The lecture was led by Samanlatha Menike Adhikari, Senior Assistant Librarian at the University of Colombo. Her expertise in this field provided valuable insights and guidance to the students in successfully conducting their literature reviews. This lecture covered the essential components of a literature review, such as understanding the purpose and structure of a literature review, conducting comprehensive and systematic literature searches, critically analyzing and evaluating sources, synthesizing and organizing information, and effectively presenting findings.

Guest lecture on Gender and Democracy was conducted by Ms. Hasini Lecamwasam. This lecture discussed the intersectionality of gender and democracy. Through this lecture, participants were able to explore how gender identities impact individuals' experiences within democratic societies, including issues related to representation, participation, and rights. This lecture provided valuable insights into the complexities of gender dynamics within democratic systems and highlighted the ongoing efforts to create more inclusive and equitable societies for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy organized a guest lecture on the topic of "Waves of Democratization" by Professor Neil de Votta. With his knowledge and expertise, Professor Neil de Votta discussed the historical patterns and trends surrounding the spread of democracy worldwide. Attendees had the immense opportunity to gain insights into the dynamics and challenges of democratic transitions, deepening their understanding of political systems and global developments.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy organized an event called "book talk" discussion, centered around the book "Electoral Politics in Sri Lanka" by Professor S.I Keethaponcalan. During this event, attendees had the opportunity to engage in an open dialogue about the key themes and ideas explored in the book.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Colombo recently organized a public lecture featuring Rukmini S, the author of the book 'Whole Numbers & Half Truths: What Data Can and Cannot Tell Us About Modern India'. This lecture aimed to explores the use and misuse of data in understanding India's socio-economic and political landscape. She focused on the limitations of relying solely on statistical numbers and emphasized the importance of understanding the context and complexities behind the data. Rukmini S, an experienced journalist and data analyst, shared her expertise on how data can sometimes present a misleading image and emphasized the need for critical thinking and wide understanding when interpreting statistical information.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy University of Colombo in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), organized a workshop focused on Enhancing Electoral Literacy and Civic Engagement of Undergraduates. The goal of the workshop was to empower participants with a deep understanding of various aspects related to the electoral process. The workshop covered topics, including the electoral system in Sri Lanka, Election laws, and election partitioners. Participants were provided with detailed information about the intricacies of the electoral system and how it functions within the Sri Lankan context. During the workshop, a significant focus was placed on equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively prepare for field research. This included practical tips and strategies for conducting effective research on elections and electoral processes. Participants were familiarized with a diverse range of tools and techniques that can be effectively utilized to collect and analyze data. This comprehensive workshop helps them to sharpen their research skills and equip them with valuable knowledge that can be applied to their future research endeavors.

Public Lecture Series 2024
No:01

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy hosted a guest lecture titled "Central Europe: Laboratory of Democratic Transitions and Democratic Crisis" by Dr. David Karas. The lecture explored the unique historical and political context of Central Europe and its significant role in shaping democratic transitions and crises.
In this lecture, Dr. Karas delved into the various factors that have influenced democratic developments in Central European countries, such as political ideologies, economic reforms, and social movements. He examined the successes and challenges faced by these nations throughout their transformation from communist regimes to democratic systems.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy organized a guest lecture series with the objective of enhancing academic growth by providing a platform to question prevailing perspectives and challenge existing paradigms. One of the key highlights in this series was the lecture "Reversing the Gaze: Decolonizing Political Theory" delivered by Professor Benedikt Korf, an esteemed scholar in Political Geography at the University of Zurich.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy in collaboration with the Career Guidance Unit, University of Colombo conducted a Leadership and Behavioral Skills Development Program. This program was aimed to equip students with essential knowledge and skills necessary for effective leadership and personal development.

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Colombo organized the screening of the Documentary Film ‘EVOKING’ directed by Udan Fernando on the 28th of September 2022.The film followed by a panel discussion with distinguished panelists Professor Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri and Mr. Piyasiri Samarakoon. The session moderated by Dr. Pradeep Peiris.
EVOKING – claims of monarchy in modern Sri Lanka, traces the journey of a Sri Lankan-born émigré to the Netherlands as he endeavors to restore the Royal House of Jaffna in The Hague. His ascent to the throne, as the new King of Jaffna, rests on his claim to descent from the lineage of the Arya Chakravarti dynasty—a northern Sri Lankan kingdom that fell in the 17th Century with the Portuguese invasion of Ceylon. Fernando’s film chronicles the aspiring regent’s recollection of his forebears, their exile and his own childhood. Historical background and commentary are provided by a group of leading Dutch scholars, offering a range of perspectives on the pertinent political, postcolonial and sociological contexts to understand kingship claims in our modern world.”

The Department of Political Science organized its 3 days annual field excursion with final year Political Science honors degree students from 06th to 08th, October 2022 with the participation of 49 students and 7 staff members.
The theme of field training was to study the opinion and attitudes of agrarian societies on current political and economic crises. The Giradurukotte area of ​​the Mahaweli C section was chosen as the field, and students were given training on both qualitative and quantitative data collection. To obtain qualitative data, three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with officials- Mahaweli Authority, representatives of farmers' societies, and the public, and a pre-prepared structured questionnaire was used to obtain quantitative data. In addition, a detailed lecture was delivered by Mahaweli Authority officials and a documentary about Mahaweli C Division was also screened for the students.
At the end of the field training, an interactive briefing session was conducted by Dr. Pradeep Peiris, and three newspaper articles and a documentary will be prepared based on the data and information obtained in the field excursion.

The Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Department of Political Science & Public Policy University of Colombo jointly initiated a short course on parliamentary functions and procedures for the first time in history.
The inaugural ceremony of the course was held on the 16th at the University of Colombo with the participation of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Colombo, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Head Department of Political Science & Public Policy, and Senior Officials of the Parliament, Sri Lanka.
The opening lecture was delivered by the Secretary General of the Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake and the resource persons for the rest of the lectures were also the senior officials of the General Secretariat of the Parliament.
This course aims to provide scholars with an understanding with regards to democracy and the parliamentary system, the legislative process of parliament, the evolution of the parliamentary system, the parliamentary committee system, parliament and public, the code of conduct for members, standing orders, the correlation for public service process, women's representation, etc. The Short Course on Parliamentary Affairs and Procedures includes four lectures and a parliamentary visit.

Congratulations to the winners of the Department of Political Science and Public Policy in Inter-Departmental Debating Competition
Winner : Sinhala Medium Category
Runners-up : Tamil Medium Category