The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Colombo for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE), the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region. The MoU was ceremoniously signed on Friday, March 1st, 2024, at the College House, University of Colombo.

The MoU formalizes the collaboration between the UNFPA Sri Lanka Country Office and the University of Colombo for the design and establishment of the Centre of Excellence, underscoring UNFPA's commitment to thought leadership, knowledge creation, and innovation in Sri Lanka.

Chaired by Senior Professor H. D. Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, and Kunle Adeniyi, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund Sri Lanka, the signing ceremony witnessed the participation of distinguished dignitaries including UNFPA Regional Director of Asia Pacific, Pio Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Vajira Dissanayake, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor L. Manawadu, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Sampath Punchihewa, Professor in Sociology at the Department of Sociology, Professor Subanghi Herath, Head of the Department of Demography, Dr. Kumudika Boyagoda, and other key stakeholders from both institutions.

The objectives of the meeting were twofold; to formalize the establishment and operationalization of the Centre of Excellence through the signing of the MoU and to recognize the strong partnership between the University of Colombo and the UNFPA in data generation, population dynamics, and evidence-based policy formulation.

“In a momentous reflection on a five-decade journey, UNFPA Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the University of Colombo, reaffirms its unwavering dedication to achieving gender equality and sustainable development. This long-standing partnership has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of population issues, marking a significant milestone in their shared commitment to fostering positive change,” said Pio Smith, the UNFPA Regional Director Asia and the Pacific. 

The Centre of Excellence will serve as a hub for research, capacity building, service delivery, and fieldwork in gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, and population dynamics. It will leverage the expertise of faculty members and researchers at the University of Colombo to address socio-economic challenges and contribute to evidence-based policy development and reforms.

The CoE will play a vital role in advancing the transformative agenda of UNFPA, aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It will contribute to building research capacities, expanding regional networks, and fostering policy dialogue to address critical issues in gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, and population dynamics.

The establishment of the Centre of Excellence reflects a shared commitment between the UNFPA and the University of Colombo to advancing knowledge, promoting gender equality, and improving the health and well-being of communities.