The Centre for Gender Equity/Equality, University Grants Commission celebrated International Women’s Day on 11th March 2025 by recognizing the outstanding contributions of six distinguished individuals to gender equity and equality in the university community. Among them, three esteemed members from the University of Peradeniya were honored: Professor Carmen Wickramagamage (currently in active service), Emeritus Professor Kamala Liyanage, and Dr. Wijaya Jayatilaka.
Professor Carmen Wickramagamage, Senior Professor of English at the University of Peradeniya, is a renowned scholar specializing in literature, translation, and feminist theory. A Fulbright and Erasmus Mundus Fellow, she played a pivotal role in developing policies to prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) at Peradeniya, serving as Chairperson of the University’s SGBV Prevention Committee (2018–2024).
Emeritus Professor Kamala Liyanage, a leading political scientist, has over four decades of academic and research experience. A PhD graduate from Keio University, Japan, she has significantly influenced gender policy development in Sri Lanka and conducted groundbreaking research on women’s rights, governance, and gender disparities. Her contributions earned her Japan’s prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays on Neck Ribbon.
Dr. Wijaya Jayatilaka, a pioneer in gender education and advocacy, introduced Sri Lanka’s first university courses on gender and was instrumental in establishing the Gender Education and Women’s Initiative Unit (GEWIU) at Peradeniya. As co-chair of the UGC’s Gender Equity & Equality Standing Committee, he played a key role in shaping gender policies and university gender centers.
This felicitation recognized the remarkable dedication of these scholars in advancing gender justice, women’s empowerment, and policy development, inspiring future generations in academia and beyond.
