The University of Jaffna hosted a district facilitation meeting for the research pods involved in the Mobilizing University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders including four mentors and the university coordinator as well as the District NGO Coordinator, District Cultural Officer and District Integration Officer who contributed to discussions on the district's pressing issues.

The meeting focused on identifying and selecting research topics within the three thematic areas of dying cultural issues, issues leading to ethnic relations, and ethnic tensions, which will guide the research efforts of the students who will be instrumental in producing actionable findings aimed at addressing the challenges.

The District Integration Officer emphasised the crucial role that university students played in the project, particularly in the implementation of research findings and recommendations in a manner that was sustainable and beneficial to the public. He encouraged the research pods to concentrate on specific, actionable issues that would yield tangible results within the project’s timeframe.

Dr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, a research pod mentor, reiterated that the project's primary objective was to conduct effective research with the collaboration of university academics, students and state officials, and to implement these findings at the local level with the support of relevant state bodies.

The project is implemented across the districts of Sabaragamuwa, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Matara and is supported by GIZ. In each district, 15 students from Ruhuna University, Jaffna University, Eastern University and Sabaragamuwa University are conducting research under the three thematic areas.

The project represents a significant collaborative effort between academic institutions, state officials and local communities to address critical socio-cultural issues and promote reconciliation.