Abstract:
Lack of facilities for various extra-curricular activities for all the students in the university
community is one of the major reasons for student unrest in Sri Lanka. According to the
investigation carried out in 1988, 20% and 80% students involved in competitive and
non-competitive extra-curricular activities respectively, before they enter the university.
75% and 23% students expect jobs in the government sector and private sector
respectively, only 5% prefers self-employment. Sports and aesthetic activities are most
important for the well-being of the body and the mind. Involvement in different kinds of
extra-curricular activities and continuation of activities that they have been doing since
their childhood would probably help students 1) learn more about various challenges; 2)
meet different people from prospective job markets and interests; 3) for capacity
building; 4) in imagining about future prospective jobs; 5) develop the self-confident in
facing the private sector and involve in self-employment. Therefore, the university
education system should be reformed in a productive way to produce better graduates
who can face any challenging situation in the country. Therefore, university as a learning
organization should improve various activities to develop active participation of students
in developing their skills in addition to academic activities. Thus, ongoing research
should be carried out encompassing extra- curricular activities of the students in order to
enhance active participation in the university environment.
