First Annual Conference – ‘International Relations & the Bystander Effect’ , 21st – 22nd Nov. 2020
First Annual Conference of the Department of International Relations (INCOIRe) was held during 21st -22nd November 2020. This year’s theme was ‘International Relations & the Bystander Effect’. The Conference began with the Department of International Relations’ a capella group ‘19-65 Chorus’ rendering of the national anthem.
Dr. Maneesha Wanasinghe-Pasqual welcomed all to the Conference by noting that 2020 celebrated 40 years since the founding ‘fathers’, Prof. Shelton U. Kodikara, Prof. Emeritus Amal Jayawardene and Prof. George Cooray began teaching International Relations to undergraduates at the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo. It is also the 35th anniversary of the start of the Masters in International Relations, designed under a collaboration with the American University, USA; the 20th anniversary since the Special Degree in International Relations was started and the 5th Anniversary since the three-year undergraduate degree, Study Stream in Conflict Resolution and Peace was started. It is also the 10th anniversary since the Department of International Relations was created and she acknowledged the yeomen’s service of Senior Professor Nayani Melegoda, the founder of the Department.
The Conference Inauguration was graced by the presence of the Vice Chancellor, Senior Professor Chandrika N. Wijeyaratne who delivered the Keynote Speech. The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Senior Professor Premakumara de Silva provided remarks on the achievements of the Department. The Guest of Honor Speech was delivered by Professor Atsuko Kanehara, President of the Japanese Society of International Law. Moreover, the Plenary Speech was made by Professor Emeritus Amal Jayawardane, remarks by Professor George Cooray and Mr. Peshan Gunaratne presented remarks on opportunities as an International Relations graduate.
The second day inauguration was celebrated with the presence of the Chief Guest, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Relations, Sri Lanka Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage and the Keynote address was delivered by Professor Swarna Singh, Jawaharlal Nehru University on ‘Everydayness in International Relations’. Senior Professor Nayani Melegoda, Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Professor of International Relations launched the book on IR Trilingual Glossary, which was multi-authored by Senior Professor Nayani Melegoda, Dr. Maneesha S. Wanasinghe–Pasqual, and Dr. Nirmali Wijegoonewardene; translated into Sinhala by Professor S. Copparahewa and into Tamil by T. Waradas. Dr. Chaminda Padmakumara, Senior Lecturer presented the work undertaken by the Department under the World Bank AHEAD Program.
The Conference had 10 concurrent sessions, with Chairpersons representing the Faculties of Arts and Science along with numerous former Ambassadors and Think-Tank Directors/Deputy Directors. There were 33 paper presentations, all conducted via Zoom.
The ‘Dinnertime’ sessions, a variation of the ‘Teatime Dialogue’ introduced by the Department to hold intellectual discussions with staff and experts in the field, provided the opportunity to engage with world renowned scholars in the field of International Relations. Professor Emeritus John Richardson from American University (USA), a pioneer in Systems Analysis was on the ‘Dinnertime Chat’ with Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha in Day One. On Day Two, Professor Emeritus Christoper Mitchell from George Manson University (USA), a pioneer in Alternative Dispute Analysis and specialist in Zones of Peace gave the ‘Dinnertime Lecture’. Prof. Peter Wallenteen from University of Uppsala, Sweden and Prof. Jakub Zajaczkowski and Dr. Dorota Heidrich from the University of Poland were attendees to the sessions.
The academic staff members, Dr. Wanasinghe-Pasqual, Dr. Padmakumara, Ms. Wimalasiri, Mr. Kandaudahewa, Ms. Jayawardane, Ms. Wijayabahu and Ms. Wakkumbura took on the responsibility to moderate the sessions. The Vote of Thanks was given by Ms. Jayawardane and Ms. Wijayabahu for Day One and Ms. Wimalasiri and Mr. Kandaudahewa for Day Two respectively.
The seven books complied under the International Relations Books Series was launched on the second day of the conference. Ms. Wakkumbura presented the book on Security, Human Security, Regionalism, Peace Negotiation, Citizenship, Diplomacy and Human Rights to the audience. The Sri Lanka Journal of International Relations was also launched, with Mr. Kandaudahewa providing information on the double-blind-reviewed articles. A book on the History of the Department of International Relations was also launched during the Conference.
The INCOIRe Conference was the brainchild of Dr. Wanasinghe-Pasqual and is the culmination of the hard work of all staff members and the two Assistant Lecturers Mr. Shakthi De Silva and Ms. Asha Thrishali. They were ably assisted by the non-academic staff member Ms. Thilini Perera and the AHEAD Research Assistant, Ms. Sachini Madukumari. The second year students played a central role in the inauguration, being members of the a capella chorus and the dance. The third year students helped design conference virtual background, the book and journal covers and took minutes of the proceedings. The proceedings book was also published.
