Address
Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo. View mapNext Intake 2025
Introduction
Human Rights considerations have been increas-ingly important to leadership strategy, planning, enforcement and revising exiting policies and norms in any field. Human rights thus have evolved into a distinct academic discipline with theoretical and practical importance, drawing in-spiration from several fields of study.
The EDHR aims to provide with an opportunity for the candidates, primarily for the law enforcement and officers from the Military Forces, interested and suitable candidates from government / private sectors and members of civil societies in their ear-ly and mid-career, to enhance their knowledge by following a structured course of studies in the uni-versity environment. The necessary skills of the candidates related to human rights will also be improved. In addition, the eventual prospect of this course of study is to change stereotype atti-tudes and perceptions of individuals in their duties to protect and promote human rights.
The course aims to provide the candidates in their early and mid-career an opportunity to enhance their basic knowledge on human rights by following a well-structured course of studies in the university environment. The design of the curriculum, teaching and learning methodology will enhance necessary skills of the candidates related to the protection, promotion and implementation of human rights. In addition, the eventual objective of this course of study is positive influence of attitudes and perception of such officers in their duties to protect, promote and implement human rights effectively.
a) The objectives of this course are:
- To provide an essential grounding in the history, concepts, doctrines, principles and institutions of the international human rights regime.
- To critically consider current developments in the area of fundamental rights law in Sri Lanka and to effectively promote, protect and implement fundamental rights in Sri Lanka.
- To analyse and use case studies to consider the specific development of new paradigms and horizons of human rights such as group rights, women’s rights, child rights etc.
b) At the end of this course, students will be able:
- To demonstrate a precise and basic understanding of the main concepts, principles, doctrines, procedures and systems of international human rights law.
- To critically analyse and discuss the domestic trends, developments and challenges for effective implementation of fundamental rights and promotion of human rights.
- To carry out independent research and communicate conceptual debates and arguments concerning contemporary issues of new rights and their acceptability.
Semester I
EDHR 1001: An Introduction to Human Rights
EDHR 1002: International Human Rights Law
EDHR 1004: Domestic Legal System and Fundamental Rights
Semester II
EDHR 1003: Regional Standards and System of Human Rights
EDHR 1005: National Redressal Mechanisms
EDHR 1006: Evolving New Types of Human Rights
The EDHR aims to focus more on the basics of human rights concepts and leading the teaching and learning activities towards contemporary challenges of human rights. The modules consist of the following main areas:
- Conceptual/philosophical Backgrounds, Origin, Historical Evolution of Human Rights.
- Gradual Evolution of Generational Rights: Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural.
- An Introduction to International Human Rights Law and International Human Rights Mechanisms: UNO.
- Domestic Legal System and Fundamental Rights.
- State Responsibilities and Obligations relating to Human Rights: International and Regional Levels.
- Violations of Human Rights and/or Fundamental Rights, and Domestic & International Remedial Measures/Mechanisms.
- Law Enforcement and Human Rights: Protection and Promotion of Human Rights
- Evolving New Types of Rights: individual & group rights: women, children, minority, refugee, IDPs etc.
- Contemporary Challenges of Human Rights: Domestic and International Challenges.
By-law of EDHR
- Duration: One year
- Weekend Programme
- SLQF level: 3
- Number of Credits: 30
- Medium of Instructions: Selected candidates can follow either in Sinhala or Tamil medium.
- Degree or a professional qualification from a recognized institution; or
- Three passes in G.C.E. (A/L) with two years’ experience in the relevant field; or
- Six passes in G.C.E. (O/L) with five years experience in the relevant field; or
- Any other relevant qualifications and/or experiences accepted by the BSDS and approved by the Faculty Board of the FGS
- A person who wishes to apply for the FGS programmes shall forward the application to the Senior Assistant Registrar, Faculty of Graduate Studies, No.35/30, Pro. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 07.
- Applications can be downloaded from (fgs.cmb.ac.lk) the faculty website.
- The students will be selected through an interview or a placement test or both.
- The next intake will be announced via the website, at the time of calling for applicants.
Application Fee: LKR 3,000/-
Registration Fee: LKR 5,000/-
Course Fee: LKR 81,500/-
Library Fee: LKR 1,500/-
Examination Fee: LKR 12,000/-
Refundable Library Deposit: LKR 5,000/-
(Rs. 2,500/= per card)
- Professor Wasantha Senevirathne
- Professor A. Sarwesvaran
- Mr. M. A. M. Hakeem
- Professor M. T. M. Mahees
- Ms. T. Kumarasoorier
- Ms. T. R. Galappaththige
- Ms. B. M. Munasinghe
- Ms. Dianarthy Suthakar
- Ms. S. Susarithaa
- Mr. K.K. Amarasinghe
- Mr. V.K. Ahamed
Course Coordinator
M. A. M. Hakeem
LL.M, University of Malaya, Malaysia
LL.B, University of Colombo
Email: hakeemmam@gmail.com / mamhakeem@law.cmb.ac.lk
Mobile: 077 768 00 35
Course Assistant
Ms. Sandamali
Email: fgs.edhr@fgs.cmb.ac.lk
Phone: (+94) 11 205 56 56
