In line with the 160th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Police, a series of pre-conference workshop has commenced in preparation for the International Research Conference organized by the National Police Academy (NPA). The inaugural session was held on 25 May 2026 at the Main Auditorium of the National Police Academy.
As the first phase of this initiative, a workshop was conducted with the participation of students from the first, second, and third cohorts of the Diploma in Gender-Based Violence Studies.
The workshop was organized for participants of the diploma programme currently conducted by the National Police Academy under the Memorandum of Understanding established with the High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support and sponsorship of both organizations.
The event was attended by Mr. Vipula Dahanayake, Development Officer of the High Commission of Canada in Sri Lanka, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. Manjula Mahagirilla, Executive Director of the National Police Academy; Senior Professor Dr. Anuruddhi Edirisinghe of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya; Professor Anusha Edirisinghe of the Department of Sociology, University of Kelaniya; Ms. Menaka Herath, Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka; Senior Superintendent of Police Upali Athapaththu, Principle Administrative Officer of the National Police Academy ; Ms. Tharanga Gunasinghe, Project Manager of the United Nations Development Programme; Assistant Superintendent of Police Ms. Namali Herath, Deputy Director (Administration) of the National Police Academy; Chief Inspector Sanjeewa Abeywickrama, Officer-in-Charge (Administration); together with a number of officers and staff members of the National Police Academy.
These pre-conference workshop are expected to strengthen research, academic discourse, and knowledge-sharing on gender-based violence, while laying a strong foundation for the forthcoming International Research Conference.