Five Decades of unwavering commitment to workers' education

COLOMBO UNIVERSITY'S IHRA CELEBRATES ITS GOLDEN JUBILEE AND THE BIRTHDAY OF ONE OF ITS CO-FOUNDERS, DR. KUMARI JAYAWARDHANA

- By Prof. W.S. Chandrasekara (Director/IHRA)

The Institute of Human Resource Advancement (IHRA) of the University of Colombo celebrates a significant milestone this year: fifty years of unwavering commitment to accessible, practical oriented education for the working population of Sri Lanka. From its inception as a modest movement rooted in labour empowerment to becoming a national hub for higher education in human resource development, IHRA's journey is a compelling narrative of vision, perseverance, and transformation.

IHRA's story begins in 1971 with the launch of the Workers' Education Movement, a pioneering initiative inspired by the belief that education should be a right accessible to all, regardless of occupation or social class. The Movement took root amid a rising consciousness of labour rights and the need for structured academic opportunities for workers. In 1973, 22 worker-students were enrolled in a Special Degree in Development Studies at the University of Colombo. Simultaneously, 160 additional students joined the Worker Education Course, marking the formal beginning of an educational transformation.

By 1975, the movement had reached a new milestone. Fifty-eight students who had undergone rigorous academic training advanced to follow the Bachelor of Development Studies program. Their graduation in 1979 symbolized the transformative power of education in changing the trajectories of working individuals.

Founding Visionaries: Professor Osman Jayarathna and Dr. Kumari Jayawardhana

The success of this ambitious project was made possible through the visionary leadership of two pioneers: the late Professor Osman Jayarathna and Dr. Kumari Jayawardhana. Their passion for worker education laid the foundation for what would eventually become IHRA. Professor Jayarathna's legacy lives on in the structure and ideology of the institute, while Dr. Jayawardhana continues to contribute intellectually and symbolically to its growth.