Biography
Dr. Jude Lal Fernando is Associate Professor and Coordinator of M.Phil Programme in Contextual Theologies and Interfaith Relations at the Irish School of Ecumenics, School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies, Trinity College Dublin. He is the Director of Trinity Centre for Post-Conflict Justice and brings praxis-based experience to the academic context in the fields of liberation theology, interreligious studies, and international peace studies. His main research interests are decolonising the interplay of religion, peace, and conflict, and the correlation between ethno-nationalisms and geopolitics, focusing on Sri Lanka in particular, and Asia more generally.He lays emphasis on the geopolitics of conflict and peace and on the political interpretations of ethno-religious identities while recognising the liberative potential in diverse faiths for just peace. He has authored two books, edited two collections of papers on faith and resistance to empire and militarization. His research has been published as journal articles and book chapters, presented at international conferences in Asia, Latin America, USA and Europe. Some of these have been translated into German, French, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Sinhala and Tamil.
Dr. Fernando's teaching duties comprise modules and individual lectures, across the four post-graduate programmes at the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin both in Dublin (International Peace Studies, Contextual Theologies and Interfaith Relations, and Conflict and Dispute Resolution) and Belfast (Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation). He supervises Master's dissertations on PhD theses on political analysis of faith-related conflicts and the quest for just peace. He was a visiting lecturer at Dublin City University, Tampere University in Finland, Uppsala University in Sweden, Ritsumeikan and Sophia Universities in Japan and Chang Chung Christian University in Taiwan and is a guest lecturer at the Priory Institute and Carlow College in Ireland. He is a founding member and an associate editor of the editorial board of International Journal of Asian Christianity.
Prior to his arrival in Ireland he has been a member of Tulana, the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue and Research in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and has been involved in Buddhist-Hindu-Christian-Muslim dialogue under the mentorship of Asian indologist and theologian, Professor Aloysius Pieris. Fernando was a founding member of two peace-building community-based journals, Kithusara (in Sinhala) and Oliyai Nokki (in Tamil) which explored liberative potential in faiths for a just peace. He was the national coordinator of the All-Ceylon Fisherfolk Trade Union, and a member of the Hiru Group, raising public awareness in Sri Lanka regarding the need for a negotiated political settlement to the ethno-nationalist conflict. In Ireland, as a human rights and peace campaigner Dr. Fernando coordinates the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka, which explores the lessons of the Irish peace process for Sri Lanka. He was also co-coordinator of the three sessions of the People's Tribunal on Sri Lanka, held in Dublin in January 2010, in Bremen in December 2013 and in Berlin in May 2022.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Human Liberation, Mysticism and Militancy: Theologies of Tissa Balasuriya and Aloysius Pieris in, editor(s)Peter C. Phan , Oxford Handbook of Asian Christian Theologies, London/New York, Oxford University Press, 2023, ppChapter 16 , [Jude Lal Fernando]
The Geopolitics of Interreligious Dialogue: Political Zionism, Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and the Oppressed in, editor(s)Kwok Pui-Lan , Transpacific Political Theology: Perspectives and Methods, Texas, Baylor University Press, 2023, ppChapter 8 , [Jude Lal Fernando]
Empire, Ethno-Nationalist Frontiers and Theologies: Working Interreligiously for Just Peace in, Festschrift in Honour of Leo Lefebure, 2023, ppChapter 9 , [Jude Lal Fernando]
Introduction, Faith that Hopes for Liberation in, editor(s)Jude Lal Fernando , Faith in the Face of Militarization: Indigenous, Feminist, and Interreligious Voices, Eugene, Oregon, Pickwick Publications, 2021, pp1 - 26, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, Faith in the Face of Militarization: Indigenous, Feminist and Interreligious Voices, Eugene, Oregon, Pickwick Publications, 2021, 1 - 300pp
Jude Lal Fernando, Introduction, Framings of Religion, Conflict and Peace:Christianity, Conflict and the Pursuit of Just Peace in Asia, International Journal of Asian Christianity, 4, (2), 2021, p177 - 191
International Journal of Asian Christianity, 4, 2, (2021), Jude Lal Fernando, [eds.]
Realization of Anatta and Witness to Resurrection:Socio-political Implications for a Dhammadipa in, editor(s)Elizabeth Harris and Perry Schmidt-Leukel , A Visionary Approach: Lynn A. de Silva and the Prospects for Buddhist-Christian Encounter , Munich, EOS, 2021, pp275 - 298, [Jude Lal Fernando]
People, Land, and Empire in Asia: Geopolitics, Theological Imaginations and Islands of Peace in, editor(s)Jione Havea , People and Land: Decolonizing Theologies, New York/London, Lexington & Fortress Academic, 2020, pp125 - 140, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, Resistance to Empire and Militarization: Reclaiming the Sacred, Sheffield/Bristol, Equinox, 2020, 1 - 395pp
Jude Lal Fernando, Religions and the Politics of Ethno-nationalisms in Asia: The Cases of Hindutva, Sinhalatva, Laskar Jihad and Laskar Christus, Exiting Violence: The Role of Religion, Bruno Kessler Foundation, University of Trento, Italy, 10-12 October, 2017, edited by Debora Toneli , 2020, pp16pp
Introduction in, editor(s)Jude Lal Fernando , Resistance to Empire and Militarization: Reclaiming the Sacred , Sheffield/Bristol, Equinox, 2020, pp1 - 24, [Jude Lal Fernando]
The Politics of Compassion and Forgiveness: The Political, Theological and Interreligious Perspectives in, editor(s)Zorica Maros and Darko Toma ević , OPROST I POMIRENJE: KRILATICE LI ENE SADR AJA?, Sarajevo, Katolički bogoslovni fakultet, 2019, pp155 - 170, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, Jesus in Asia, Review of Jesus in Asia, by R.S. Sugirtharajah , International Journal of Asian Christianity, 2, (1), 2019, p129-131
Empire, Ethno-Nationalist Frontiers and Faith: Decolonizing Theologies and Interreligious Dialogue for Just Peace in, editor(s)Steed Davidson and Marion Grau , Religion and Supremacy, London, Bloomsbury, London, 2019, pp16 , [Jude Lal Fernando]
Keynote - Jude Lal Fernando , Theology after Mass Atrocity - Loss Memory and Hope in Sri Lanka, First International Research Conference on Christian Studies, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 7-8 December 2018, 2018, Department of Christian Civilisation and Centre for Performing Arts
Jude Lal Fernando, Prophetic Imagination and Empire in Asia: In Search for Peace Theologies in Korea and Japan, International Journal of Asian Christianity, 1, (1), 2018, p91 - 116
Keynote - Jude Lal Fernando, Spreading Peace or Causing Violence? The Ambivalence of Religions in Conflicts, Keynote - The Launch of the Second Year of the MA Program in Religion and Globalisation, University of Aachen, Germany, 08 November , 2018, QuellPunkt, Missio and Misereor
Jude Lal Fernando, Rethinking Human Security in the Korean Peninsula: Practising Just Peace, Concilium, 2018/2, (2), 2018, p1-8
Jude Lal Fernando, The Political Economy of Post-War Reconstruction in Sri Lanka: Development-Security Nexus vs. Tamil Right to Self-Determination, Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, 5, (1), 2017, p21 - 48
Jude Lal Fernando, Transitional Justice under Liberal Peace and Victor's Peace in Sri Lanka - Good Governance or Transformation of the State?, Annual Lecture on Sri Lanka, South Asia Institute , Heidelberg University, Germany, 12 December, 2017, Sri Lanka Working Group
'Liberating the Ethno-nationalist conflict in Sri Lanka from History: Buddhist-Christian Perspectives' in, editor(s)Elizabeth Harris and John O'Grady , History as a Challenge in Buddhism and Christianity, Munich, EOS, 2016, pp245 - 290, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando (with John O'Grady and Cathy Higgins), Mining Truths: Festschrift in Honour of Geraldine Smyth OP - A Peacebuilder, Ecumenist, Dominican, Munich, EOS, 2015, 1 - 622pp
'Loss, Memory, Hope and Identity Politics in Sri Lanka: Buddhist-Christian Perspectives' in, editor(s)John O'Grady, Cathy Higgins and Jude Lal Fernando , Mining Truths: Festschrift in Honour of Geraldine Smyth OP - Peacebuilder, Ecumenist, Dominican, Munich, EOS, 2015, pp287 - 315, [Jude Lal Fernando]
'2004 Tsunami: Lost Lives, and a Missed Political Opportunity: A Multiple Disaster in Sri Lanka'(in Korean) in, editor(s)Sung Chull Kim , Natural and Technological Disasters: Political Implications, Seoul, Seoul National University Press, 2015, pp181 - 215, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, Reconceptualising Human Security and Religion: Some Political and Interreligious Perspectives, Human Security - Problem Solving and Critical Perspectives, The 5th Annual Conference of Japan Association of Human Security, International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan,, 12-13 Dec, 2015
Keynote - 'Is Sri Lanka in a Post-war or Post-conflict Situation? The Way Forward: Regime Change of Transformation of the State?' in, editor(s)Philip Tolliday, Maria Palme and Dong-Choon Kim , Asia Pacific Between Conflict and Reconciliation, Göttingen, V&R Academic, 2015, pp139 - 171, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Keynote - Jude Lal Fernando, From Liberation Theologies to Theologies of Truth, Memory and Hope, Shifting Locations - Reshaping Methods: How New Fields of Research in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies Elicit Methodological Extensions, Lublin University, Poland, 15-18 April, 2015, The Fifth Biannual Conference of the European Society of Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies
Jude Lal Fernando, The Role of Christianity in Conflict and Peace in Asia , Christianity in Asia, Intensive Special Programme, The Institute for Missiology and Study of Theologies Beyond Europe, Munster University, Germany, 14-27 Sep, 2014
Jude Lal Fernando, Negotiated Peace Versus Victor's Peace - The Geopolitics of Conflict and Peace in Sri Lanka, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 27, (2), 2014, p206 - 225
Keynote - 'Intra-Christian Dialogue, Interreligious Dialogue and Common Ethical Concerns: Can one be separated from the other?' in, editor(s)Andrew Pierce and Oliver Schuegraf , Den Blick weien: Wenn Oekumene den Religionen begegnet/Dialogue Inside-Out: Ecumenism Encounters the Religions, Leipzig, Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, 2014, pp99 - 120, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Negotiated Peace vs. Victor's Peace: The Geopolitics of Peace and Conflict in Sri Lanka', Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 27, (2), 2014, p206 - 225
'Buddhism, Nationalism and Violence in Asia" in, editor(s)Paul Hedges , Controversies in Contemporary Religion - Education, Law, Politics, Society, and Spirituality, London, Praeger Books, 2014, pp61 - 90, [Jude Lal Fernando]
'The Politics of Representations of Mass Atrocity in Sri Lanka: Human Rights Discourse and Challenges to Peace Building' in, editor(s)Peter Admirand , Loss and Hope: Global, Interreligious and Interdisciplinary Perspectives, London, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2014, pp25 - 36, [Jude Lal Fernando]
'The Role of Christianity in Peace and Conflict in Asia' in, editor(s)Felix Wilfred , The Oxford Handbook of Christianity in Asia, New York, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp283 - 301, [Jude Lal Fernando]
'War by other Means: Expansion of Sinhala Buddhism into the Tamil Region in "Post-War" Īlam' in, editor(s)Peter Schalk , Buddhism among Tamils in Tamilakam and Īlam, Part 3, Extension and Conclusions, Uppsala, Uppsala University, 2013, pp175 - 238, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, Religion, Conflict and Peace in Sri Lanka: The Politics of Interpretation of Nationhoods, Berlin, LIT Verlag, 2013, 1 - 362pp
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Ecumenism in Modern and Postmodern Contexts: In Search for an Ethic of Unity and Identity', Swedish Missiological Themes (SMT), April-May, (100.1), 2012, p65 - 89
'Empire, Geo-Politics and Ethno-nationalisms: Ireland, India and Sri Lanka' in, editor(s)Deana Heath and Chandana Mathur , Communalism and Globalization in South Asia and its Diaspora, London, Routledge, 2011, pp57 - 72, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Complementarity or Divide? Enhancing Difference in Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: In Search of a Just Peace in Sri Lanka', Studies in Interreligious Studies, 21, (2), 2011, p170 - 187
Jude Lal Fernando, 'État sri-lankais ou cinghalais', in Racsime:entre exclusion sociale et peur identitaire: Points du vue du Sud', Alternative Sud , 17, (2), 2010, p65 - 80
'A Crise de Identidade e de Unidade: Rumo a uma Ética Ecumenica' in, editor(s)Isabel Aparecida Felix , Teologias com sabor de Mangostã:. Ensaios em homenagem a Lieve Troch, Sao Paulo, Nhanduti Editora, 2009, pp161 - 178, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Im Namen des Einheitsstaates... : Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) versus Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)', Südasien , 29, (3), 2009, p46 - 50
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Venezuela: The Dynamics of Emerging Revolutionary Processes: The Invisible Gaining Visibility' , Vagdevi-Journal of Religious Reflections,New Series, 3, (1), 2009, p38 - 55
'Towards a Convergence of Resistance in Sri Lanka', in, Francois Polet , The State of Resistance: Popular Struggles in the Global South, London, Zed Books, 2007, pp180 - 185, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, A Paradigm for a Peace Movement: Thich Nhat Hanh and Martin Luther King Jn., 1, Dublin, The Columba Press, 2007
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Unity and Identity: Identity Building or Identification with the Other?', Believing in Community:Louvain Encounters in Systematic Theology (Lest) VI, Conference on Ecumenical Reflections on the Church, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, 7-10 November, 2007
'God of Plenitude and Meditation on Conscience' in, editor(s)John O'Grady and Peter Scherle , Ecumenics from the Rim: Explorations in Honour of John D'Arcy May , Munster, Lit Verlag, 2007, pp369 - 377, [Jude Lal Fernando]
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Sri Lanka: Vers une Convergence des Résistances?', in État des Résistances dans le Sud -2007, Alternative Sud, 13, (4), 2006
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Religion, Peace and Violence: Buddhist-Christian Sources, Naming and Thinking God in Europe: Theology in Global Dialogue Today, Institut de Catholique de Paris, France, 5-16 September, 2005
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Let us stand for Life, Lands and Peoples', in Creating a Better World with Victims of Globalisation , Logos, 41, (2-3), 2004, p113 - 120
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Jude Lal Fernando, Buddhist Violence and its Colonial Roots, Trinity Today, (Autumn), 2018, p21 - 21
Jude Lal Fernando, Poetry in times of Ethno-Nationalist Conflict in Sri Lanka', , A Special Lecture, Department of Literature, New Delhi City University, India, 16 Jan , 2018
Jude Lal Fernando, Buddhism and Ethno-nationalisms: The Persecution of Rohingya and Tamil Peoples, Seminar on Conflict Resolution and Interreligious Relations: The Case of Burma, Uppsala University, Sweden, 07 December, 2017, Swedish Mission Council and Department of Theology
Jude Lal Fernando, The US's Pivot towards Asia and Militarization of Islands: Challenges of the Civil Society in Peacebuilding, Conference of Asia Pacific Peace Research Association , Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, 23-25 August, 2017
Jude Lal Fernando ( with Eamonn O'Brien), Sino-Celtic Perspectives on Cry of the Earth and Cry of the Poor, 14-15 December 2016, In:Sino-Celtic Perspectives on Cry of the Earth and Cry of the Poor, 2016, Trinity College Dublin, Jude Lal Fernando and Eamonn O'Brien
Jude Lal Fernando, The Role of the Churches and Faith Communities in Peacebuilding: International Perspectives of Moral Imaginations, Korean Peninsula Peace-Sharing Forum, Seoul National Seminary, Korea, 19-20 August, edited by Korean Peninsula Peace-Sharing Forum , 2016
Jude Lal Fernando, Clash of Cultures or Political Manipulations? Enhancing Muslim-Christian Dialogue in Europe , Special Lecture, Monkstown Church of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, 10 Feb , 2015
Jude Lal Fernando, Islam vs. West: Overcoming Binaries . , Public Lecture, Philosophy Society of Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland, 23 March, 2015
Jude Lal Fernando, Islamic State, Religion, and International Relations - How to think beyond 'War on Terror' and 'Terrorism'?, Special Lecture, College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan, 16 Dec 2015 , 2015
Jude Lal Fernando, Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding , Special Lecture, Global Theological Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, 11 Nov , 2015
Jude Lal Fernando, Issues in Buddhist-Christian Dialogue , Special Lecture, Centre for the Study of Conscience, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan,, 17 Dec , 2015
Jude Lal Fernando, Ethno-nationalist conflicts in South Asia: A postcolonial critique , Special Lecture, Sungkonheo University, Seoul, South Korea, 13 May, 2014
Jude Lal Fernando, Western Perceptions of East Asia , Special Lecture, College of International Relations, Beijing,China, 13 May, 2014
Jude Lal Fernando, Religion, Conflict and Peace: A Clash of Civilisations or the Politics of Interpretations? , Special Lecture, Faculty of Theology, Vectha University, Germany, 02 July , 2013
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Representations of Mass Atrocity in Sri Lanka: Challenges to Justice and Recovery', The 9th Biennial Conference of International Network of Genocide Scholars, Buenos Aires, Universidad Tres de Febrero, 19-22 July 2011, 2012
Jude Lal Fernando, The Role of the Church in the National Question in Sri Lanka , Public Lecture, Canadian Church Forum, 16 April, 2012
Jude Lal Fernando, Buddhism as a Meaning Structure and a Political Structure: The Case of Sri Lanka, Special Seminar, Department of Theology, University of Uppsala, Sweden, 7 December, 2011
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Memory, Truth and Hope in Sri Lanka: Buddhist-Christian Perspectives', The 9th Conference of European Network of Buddhist-Christian Studies, Hope University, Liverpool, Britain, 30 June-04July, 2011
Jude Lal Fernando, ( A Book Review) Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Shaping Our World, Vinoth Ramachandra, London, SPCK, 2008, Search: Church of Ireland Journal , 33, (1), 2010, p67 - 68
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Los Tamiles en Sri Lanka, las mas recientes victimas del imperialismo', CEPA, 1, (10), 2010, p48 - 54
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Internationalising the Lessons from the Irish Peace Process: The Sri Lankan Case', The Friendly Word, Ireland's Quaker Journal , 27, (6), 2010, p3 - 4
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Geo-politics and Ethno-nationalisms: Why Northern Ireland gets 'Resolved' and Sri Lanka doesn't', PSAI Specialist Group in Peace and Conflict, Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin, 22-23 May, 2009
Jude Lal Fernando, 'At The End of the Day...: Commemoration-Forward Thinking into the Past: International Experience (Sri Lanka)', A Report by Healing Through Remembering Sub Group , 2008, p29 - 36
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Sri Lanka: Lessons from the Irish Peace Process', Unity-Newsletter of the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College, Dublin , 9, 2008, p1 - 4-5
Jude Lal Fernando, 'The Dynamics and Challenges of the Sri Lankan Civil Society in the face of the Ethno-nationalist Conflict and Neoliberalism', People's Movements from the Global South:Algeria, Bolivia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, Centre Tricontinental,University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 17 January, 2007
Jude Lal Fernando, Agama Saha Deshapalanya: Kiyawena Boruwa Saha Nokiyawena Aththa (The English meaning of this Sinhala title is 'Religion and Politics: The Told Untruth and the Untold Truth'.)`, 1, Colombo, Hiru Group, 2004
Jude Lal Fernando, 'Victims of War are Messengers of Peace', 'God-Talk in Europe in the Crucible of Cultures, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, 28 August-04 Sep, 2004
Jude Lal Fernando (co-authored with Mahinda Namal), Sanvedi (This is a collection of narratives and their analyses from critical perspectives of the victims of all communities affected by the Lankan conflict. The English meaning of the title is 'sensitivity'), 1999
Jude Lal Fernando, Baibaliya Vishwasaye Haraya Vimaseema, 1, Colombo, Justice and Peace Commission of SEDEC, 1992
Research Expertise
Description
.My academic research during the 14 years (since arriving in Ireland, 2004, for postgraduate studies) emerged from civic engagement in my native Sri Lanka (1983-2004) as a human rights and peace campaigner. .I was part of faith communities as well as secular human-rights groups in both working for a peaceful resolution to the country's long ethno-nationalist conflict and promoting dialogue to overcome interreligious tensions. In their imagination and articulation of human dignity and justice faith communities and human rights groups have distinct sources of ethics. I am deeply embedded in both these sources and their relationship. .Broadly, then, I have developed two disciplinary tracks in my research, teaching and publishing: 1) politics of conflict, peace and human rights, and 2) religion's role in conflict and peacebuilding. Initially, my main case-study was Sri Lanka: its ethno-nationalist conflict, local and global challenges for just peace and the role of interreligious dialogue for peacebuilding. .Following the same disciplinary tracks, my research expanded to other regions and adopted a comparative approach encompassing Northern Ireland, Korea and Japan. .In a major article (2014) I explored Christianity's role in conflict and peace in Asia; this led to an ongoing research-project. In this latter, I analyse broader global dimensions of the politics of conflict and peace and the politics of interreligious dialogue for peacebuilding, by utilising the disciplines of empire and postcolonial studies, studies in ethno-nationalist conflicts and the ambivalent character of faiths. .In recognition of my expertise the Council of World Missions, an ecumenical body of 37 churches, commissioned me to edit a two-volume collected papers (two conferences), in Mexico and Seoul, last year. As principal investigator of these conferences I worked with around 70 scholars from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, the Caribbean Islands, The Pacific Region and the USA. The project-theme is Faith and Resistance to Empire and Militarisation: Reclaiming the Sacredness of Lives, Lands, Seas and Skies. My methodology is engagement with the survivors of conflict, evoking a critical and creative response to conflict through alternative political, theological, interreligious and indigenous imaginations, and envisioning paradigms for just peace.Recognition
Representations
Consultant - Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation Programme, World Council of Churches
Invited Speaker at Governmental Level - Post-War Justice in Sri Lanka, Senate of Colombia and Chamber of Representative, Bogota, Colombia
Invited Speaker at Governmental Level - The Role of UN in Post-War Justice in Sri Lanka, Department of Foreign Affairs, Parliament Building, Quito, Ecuador
Book Review Editor - International Journal of Asian Christianity
Invited Speaker at Governmental Level - Consultation on Revisiting the 2002 Peace Process in Sri Lanka organized by Norwegian Parliamentarians for Peace in Sri Lanka, Norwegian Parliament Building,Oslo, Norway
Academic Coordinator and Editor - Faith in the Face of Militarisation Conference ( 1 and 2), Council of World Missions
Series Editor ( with Jorge Castillo and Carl Sterkens) - Interreligious Studies Series, LIT Verlag, Berlin
Founding Member - Ireland-UK Transitional Justice Network
Coordinator - People's Tribunal on Sri Lanka
Visiting Professor - College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Visiting Professor - Summer Programme, Sophia University, Japan
Visiting Professor - Tampere Peace Research Institute, Tampere University, Finland
Visiting Professor - Department of Theology, Uppsala University, Sweden
External Ph.D. Examiner - St John's University of York, UK
External Ph.D. Examiner - Genoa University, Italy
External M.A. Examiner - Dublin City University
External M.A. Examiner - Maynooth University
Journal Article Reviewer - European Societies, Journal of Peace Education, European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology, Journal of International Political Sociology, Journal of Conflict, Security and Development Religions, Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, International Journal of Asian Christianity
Invited Speaker at Inter-Governmental Level - European Parliament Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Session on the Findings of People's Tribunal on Sri Lanka: Human Rights Violations in the Post-war Period, European Parliament,Brussels,Belgium
Invited Speaker at Governmental Level - Dáil Joint Committee for European Affairs, Session on Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka, Government Buildings, Dublin, Ireland
Invited Speaker at Governmental Level - Dáil Joint Committee for Foreign Affairs, Session on Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka, Government Buildings, Dublin,Ireland
Founding Member and Coordinator - Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka
Awards and Honours
Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship of ISE Trust, Carlow College and The Priory Institute
Full Ph.D. Scholarship Granted by Trinity College Dublin
James Haire Memorial Prize for the Best M.Phil. Dissertation in Ecumenics in 2005
Memberships
Affiliated Researcher of Centre for Asian Studies, Trinity College Dublin
Book Review Editor of International Journal of Asian Christianity
Fellow of Centre Tricontinental, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium
Member of South Asian Studies Association of Ireland
Editorial Board Member (South Asia) of Asian Journal of Peacebuilding
A TCD Representative/Governing Board Member of Marino Institute of Education
Founding Member/Editorial Board Member of International Journal of Asian Christianity
ISE-TCD Representative/Board Member of European Network of Buddhist-Christian Studies
Member of Irish Network for Buddhist Studies
Main Convenor of Commission for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, International Peace Research Association
Member of Scientific Committee of International Peace Research Association
ISE-TCD Representative/Board Member of the European Society for Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies
Member of International Network of Genocide Scholars
Editorial Board Member (Representative for Asia): Alternative Sud