What is ICES (International Centre for Ethnic Studies)?

Updated

ICES is the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, a research centre based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that focuses on ethnic studies and related social questions. Its public site presents four main strands of work — Current Research, Public Engagements, Art & Social Change, and a Library — so it functions as a research institute that also runs events and public programming rather than a teaching institution or a membership service.

What ICES does

The site's own structure is the clearest guide to its scope:

Area What it covers on the site
Current Research Research papers, reports, and books, including titles on liberalism, local politics and gendered realities, gender-based violence and women's leadership, and contested histories
Public Engagements Scheduled talks and discussions held at the ICES Colombo Auditorium
Art & Social Change Video works such as Whispers Beneath the Tree (with Sinhala and Tamil subtitle versions) and Shadows of the Other Colombo
Library A library with locations listed as Colombo and Kandy

The research listings mix formats — research papers, reports, and books — which suggests output aimed at both academic and policy-oriented readers. The art strand is a distinct channel: filmed works presented with subtitles in Sinhala and Tamil, consistent with a centre whose subject matter is ethnic and linguistic plurality.

Where it is and how to attend

Public events are held at the ICES Colombo Auditorium, No. 2 Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8. The site lists upcoming sessions with dates, times, and titles, for example:

  • A Review of Sri Lanka's Judicial Response to Workplace Harassment — 21 Jul 2026, 17:30–18:30
  • Just a Phase: The Forgotten Lunar Calendar — 24 Jun 2026, 17:30–19:30
  • Refugees & Asylum Seekers in Sri Lanka — 22 Jun 2026, 16:30–18:30

Each listing carries a "Learn more" link, which is where details such as registration or access conditions would appear. The site does not state whether attendance is free or requires sign-up, so check the individual event page before planning to go.

Who it is useful for

  • Researchers and students working on ethnicity, gender, justice, or Sri Lankan social history — the research papers and reports are the entry point.
  • People looking for public talks in Colombo — the events calendar is the practical section to check.
  • Anyone exploring the themes through film — the Art & Social Change videos are viewable on the site, including subtitled versions.
  • Library users — the library is listed for both Colombo and Kandy, though opening hours and access rules are not given on the page shown.

If your question is whether ICES offers courses, degrees, or paid consultancy, the site as described does not indicate any of these; it presents research, events, media, and a library. For anything beyond that, the event and publication pages linked from the homepage are the reliable next step.