The Youth Training Program on Enhancing Electoral Literacy and Civic Engagement of Undergraduates

The Youth Training Program on Enhancing Electoral Literacy and Civic Engagement of Undergraduates, organized by the Department of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Colombo in collaboration with IFES Sri Lanka and with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), reached its culmination at a ceremony held on January 22 at Hotel Galadari, Colombo. The ceremony was attended by distinguished individuals including Senior Professor (Chair) H. D. Karunaratne, Vice-Chancellor of Colombo University, Senior Professor Lasantha Manawatu, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Colombo, Dr. Mahesh Senanayake, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Policy and Mr. Paul Guerin, the Country Director of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Sri Lanka, along with representatives from the Election commission, civil society organizations, and other guests.

The highlight of the event was the student research presentation, where undergraduates showcased their findings based on data collected through field research on electoral literacy and civic engagement. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Dr. Mahesh Senanayake, Senior Lecturer Sumith Chaminda, Senior Lecturer Crishni Silva, and Ms. Nethmi Kaushalya. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Pradeep Peiris, providing an opportunity for further exploration and dialogue. The main objective of the Youth Training Program was to empower undergraduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to actively participate in the democratic process by enhancing their understanding of electoral literacy and civic engagement.