CSHR is a separate entity attached to the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. It functions under the purview of the University Senate, similar in status to other centres that already exist at the university.

Centre for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR) strives to create a society that is articulate, critical and activist concerning matters of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

The mandate of CSHR allows it to plan and execute its own programs, promote and assist other governmental and non-governmental institutions to carry out relevant programs and coordinate and monitor the activities undertaken by these institutional partners.

The promotion of knowledge of human rights is the main goal of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights. It intends to achieve this goal through multi-disciplinary educational and research activities involving university community and the public.

The Centre conducts two human rights courses namely Certificate course in human rights and Diploma in human rights under the academic supervision of the University Senate. At the university level, the Centre undertakes such activities as strengthening of existing HR teaching programmes, organizing Guest Lectures, awareness and Training of Trainers workshops, research and publications.Our outreach activities are organized under three programme headings, namely, the Public Awareness Programmes, the Workplace Focused Programmes and the Village and Estate level Programmes.