Evaluation is an important theme for the world today in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Agenda 2030. The whole world is preparing to achieve SDGs with strong focus on evaluation. This is also supported by the United Nations resolution on evaluation passed by member states in Dec 2014 leading to 2015 International Year of Evaluation.

In this context opening ceremony of the “Center for Evaluation” was held on 15th November 2017. Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura graced the event as the chief guest. The ceremony was attended by university professors, academic staff, representatives from UNICEF, evaluation community, representatives from the government organizations and other stakeholders. In the speech at the inauguration, the Vice Chancellor extended his full support for establishment of the Center. This is the first center in South Asia region and few among in Asia. The vision of the Center is to ensure a well-developed evaluation culture through increased demand and use of evaluation. The mission is to promote high quality and ethical professional standards in evaluation through enhanced capacity at all levels.

The Center is planning to work on following areas first in Sri Lanka and then expand to South Asia:
 Capacity Building through training and knowledge sharing
 Conducting joint evaluation programs with state and private sector to improve evaluation skills.
 Promote academic courses on evaluation at university level.
 Advocacy for institutionalization of evaluation in public and private sector.
 Enhancing the public awareness on uses and importance of evaluation.
 Develop and promote evaluation standards, ethics and guidelines.
 Publishing resource materials regarding the field of evaluation.

The Center has already developed internationally recognized training products and developed a skilled trainers’ pool. Ministry of Health has already requested a number of training on evaluation which will be delivered in month of November. These are small steps of a long journey of the Center. We recognize the great contribution from a group of champions in evaluation including Dr. Soma de Silva, Prof. Kumudu Wijewardene, Mr. V. Sivagnanasothy and Ms. Tatyana Nikitina.

The center is managed by an advisory panel, headed by the Director of the “Eval C”, Mr.Asela Kulagampitiya. The center was made a reality with the contribution of the UNICEF withits financial support, MsIsha Miranda Wedasinghe and the staff of the Department of Community Medicine.