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Mediation Boards and youth: the role, need, and implementation of conflict resolution in Sri Lankan school systems

Published

4 years ago

2023/01/31

Conflicts are understood differently by young people depending on their experiences in society. As opposed to what society typically perceives as a conflict, it encompasses a much broader spectrum than mere disagreements.

Conflicts often arise as a result of differences in perception in the youth community. Even though individuality is a personal characteristic, it is likely to differ from person to person depending on their social background and environment. These differences are also influenced by nature and the environment, with individuals also having the potential to change in response to factors such as education, experience, religion, and culture, as well as inherited traits from past societies.

Having a better understanding of conflict situations can have a positive effect on a person’s ability to resolve the same while also broadening their perspective.

The role of education in

emotion management

The raising of a well-balanced, responsible personality is neglected in Sri Lanka’s education system, where instead the sole focus is on obtaining employment and maintaining a livelihood. The unreasonable expectations placed on children to become professionals such as engineers or doctors limit their opportunities to grow and discover their own individual talents and interests.

In order to handle conflicts effectively during their school years and throughout their adult lives, students need to be educated about emotional management at school. It is disheartening to observe the behavior of young people in relation to conflict resolution while in college. It reflects the lack of emotional management skills among young people, who are unable to deal with their own problems; instead focusing on fulfilling the agendas of influential individuals.

The tolerance of diversity among youth

First encounters with diversity occur in the school environment. The discipline and lessons from school prepare them for diversity and individuality as adults. Indeed, having sympathy and empathy for other peoples’ sadness, pain, and happiness, can reduce social conflicts.

Often, long-standing conflicts are the result of misinformation, misperceptions, and incorrect attitudes. The conflict becomes more serious as a result of resentment that has developed over time toward the individual, rather than as a result of the incident itself.

The concept of mediation

(Samathakaranya) has been around throughout history as a method of resolving disputes. A mediation process has the ultimate purpose of resolving disagreements by taking ownership of both the problem and the solution that can be agreed upon by both parties. A Mediation Board empowers the parties involved by fostering their sense of self-assurance, confidence, and ability to openly discuss disputes and reach an agreement. Similarly, the mediators remain impartial and do not exhibit any bias towards any of the parties involved in the dispute. Additionally, they avoid coming to predetermined conclusions and ensure that the process is handled humanely and sensitively without harming anyone or creating conflict within the community.

Do Mediation Boards work well to resolve conflict between young people?

Currently, in Sri Lanka, there are 329 Conciliation Boards in operation, each consisting of a minimum of 12 members. A 40-hour course in mediation and communication techniques is required of Mediation Officers, and the final scores after a one-hour exam determine their selection.

Mediation Boards can settle disputes for youth of all ages despite their limited scope, and is the appropriate forum for anyone wanting to represent themselves in their own disputes.

The individual or party responsible for causing a dispute should not be viewed as an adversary during mediation. The principles of mediation teach that the most effective solutions to problems often result from engaging with those who might initially appear to be opponents. Communicating and solving problems in this manner leads to greater success.

An organization that respects the privacy of youth

First and foremost, the Mediation Board is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the problem you present. An adult may be able to assist you in discussing the issue freely, even if it is related to a romantic relationship. Following that, they provide the necessary guidance for resolving the dispute.

As a participant in mediation, you have the opportunity to analyze your problem according to your own preferences. The Mediation Board offers young people an excellent opportunity to seek guidance and support for their problems in a safe and open environment. In order to ensure the country’s future health and well-being, the Board is dedicated to listening and providing assistance to individuals while also maintaining their right to privacy.

The integration of mediation into school and university systems

The importance of mediation education in schools and universities cannot be overstated. With the assistance of the British Council, the Mediation Board Commission and the Ministry of Justice developed and launched a program in 2004 to address this need. A Mediation Unit was to be established in schools as part of the program. Essentially, this process involves referring certain disputes among school students to the school’s Mediation Unit which comprises senior students. Consequently, the school will establish a Mediation Unit comprising 25 students and five teachers. The Conciliation Unit consists of senior students who mediate disputes between parties.

It is not sufficient to implement a Mediation Unit at the school level alone. The need for its implementation at the university level has also emerged. University education should not only impart subject knowledge, but also cultivate a well-rounded student body that is acquainted with social issues, exposed to diverse forms of art and culture, and has an appreciation for literature. In addition to academic objectives, this is also a societal responsibility.

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ComBank hands over fully refurbished wards at De Soysa Hospital for Women

Published

3 hours ago

2026/10/4

Thilina Walpola

Pictured here are the representatives of the Bank and senior officials of the hospital at the ceremonial handing over of the refurbished ward.

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently handed over Wards No. 03 and 04 of the De Soysa Hospital for Women, after the completion of a comprehensive renovation project launched in March this year to mark International Women’s Day.

Wards 03 and 04 handle a substantial share of the hospital’s patient load, and account for approximately 2,500 to 3,000 deliveries and 4,000 to 5,000 admissions annually. Their refurbishment was designed to significantly enhance patient care, safety and comfort, and directly benefit thousands of mothers and newborns.

Five Trustees of the Commercial Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility Trust participated in the formal handing over of the refurbished wards to the hospital authorities. They were Sharhan Muhseen, the Bank’s Chairman, Raja Senanayake, Deputy Chairman, Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO, Hasrath Munasinghe, Chief Operating Officer, and Prasanna Indrajith, Chief Financial Officer.

Established in 1879, the De Soysa Hospital for Women is the first maternity hospital in Sri Lanka and the second oldest in Asia and is credited with, among others, performing the country’s first caesarean section in 1905 and establishing one of its earliest organised operating theatres in 1907.

The Commercial Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility Trust, through which this project was implemented, has via its healthcare-related interventions supported more than 100 government hospitals with essential equipment and infrastructure, contributed to emergency medical services through the ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ initiative, and implemented targeted community health interventions such as water storage solutions for families affected by kidney disease.

Business

IIHS expands global nursing pathways

Published

3 hours ago

2026/10/4

Thilina Walpola

Dr. Renuka Jayatissa and Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe speaking to the media

The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS) Multiversity is expanding its international education programmes with the aim of creating overseas employment opportunities for Sri Lankan nurses and allied health professionals while contributing to foreign exchange earnings.

Speaking to the media during a conference at IIHS Multiversity in Kerawalapitiya, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO, Co-Founder and Dean of IIHS aid that the institute has established academic partnerships with overseas universities and higher education institutions, including the University of Surrey in the UK, Deakin University in Australia, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Finland, Asia e University in Malaysia and SUNY Canton in the United States.

Under its ‘Study in Sri Lanka, Graduate to the World’ model, students can complete foundational and diploma-level qualifications locally before progressing to international top-up degrees or overseas employment.

Dr Edirisinghe said the model could substantially reduce the cost of obtaining internationally recognised qualifications. It estimates that completing a four-year bachelor’s degree at the University of Surrey in the UK would cost about USD 145,700, including tuition and living expenses, compared with about USD 27,750 through the IIHS pathway in Sri Lanka.

Dr Edirisinghe said the institute’s focus on overseas deployment addressed both Sri Lanka’s economic needs and the growing global demand for healthcare workers.

“Our winning model is producing job-ready, registration-ready healthcare professionals who can seamlessly enter foreign healthcare systems,” he said.

IIHS, which began operations in 2002 as the American College of Health Sciences, established its institutional base in Welisara in 2008 and launched its purpose-built greenfield multiversity campus in 2023.

The institute said it has upgraded the qualifications of more than 5,000 government nurses, supported over 2,500 youth on international employment pathways and trained more than 1,000 allied health professionals. It has also carried out over 250 community health projects.

The institute has identified Germany and Japan among its target markets, with pathways planned for 2,000 nurses for Germany and a one-year preparation programme linked to around 4,000 healthcare positions in Japan.

Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, Vice-Chancellor and a specialist medical doctor, said demographic changes and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases were changing healthcare requirements in Sri Lanka.

Business

Sampath Bank launches Sri Lanka’s first community-powered book discovery platform at Colombo International Book Fair

Published

3 hours ago

2026/10/4

Thilina Walpola

Sampath GPay customers can enjoy 25% cash back on Book Fair purchases

Sampath Bank PLC has launched Sampath Book Finder, Sri Lanka’s first community-powered book discovery platform, giving visitors to the Colombo International Book Fair a faster and more seamless way to find the books they are looking for across the fair’s 150+ stalls, while also opening up new opportunities to discover titles recommended by fellow readers.

Introduced on the opening day of the Colombo International Book Fair on 25 September, Sampath Book Finder brings together digital innovation and the collective knowledge of readers to address a familiar challenge at one of Sri Lanka’s largest literary gatherings, where the scale of the fair can make locating a particular title a time-consuming exercise. When a book proves difficult to locate, visitors can access bookfairtracker.com or scan the designated QR code and submit a request to the community, allowing readers who have already spotted the title to share its location and help others find it without having to search stall after stall.

Commenting on the initiative, Milinda Weerasinghe, Chief Marketing Officer, Sampath Bank PLC, said, “At Sampath Bank, we believe meaningful innovation begins by identifying everyday challenges and creating solutions that make a real difference. Sampath Book Finder brings this thinking to the Colombo International Book Fair by turning the collective knowledge of readers into a real-time digital solution, empowering them to find what they are looking for, discover something new and help others do the same, while making the overall experience more convenient and connected.”

The platform also turns book discovery into a shared experience, allowing visitors to recommend books they encounter by sharing the title, publisher, hall and stall number, which enables fellow readers to discover sought-after titles and recommendations while making it easier to locate them within the fair.

Sampath Bank’s longstanding association with the Colombo International Book Fair also continues in 2026, marking more than 20 years of partnership, with the Bank serving as the Official Banking Partner for this year’s fair. As part of its presence at the event, SampathCards offer 25% cashback for Sampath GPay customers on their purchases and 3 months 0% instalment plans for book purchases via Sampath credit cards, while visitors can also access banking services through the Bank’s physical presence at the fair. Customers registering to open selected Fixed Deposits at the premises will receive an additional 0.25%, adding further value and convenience for visitors.