The Faculty of Social Sciences, in terms of student population, is the largest Faculty in the University of Kelaniya. Although it was instituted in the academic year 1981/82, its constituted of the University, itself.

At the beginning, the Vidyalankara University, the predecessor of the University of Kelaniya, consisted of several faculties of which the faculty of Arts was divided into two namely, the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities. Owing mainly to their common origin, these two faculties still maintain a close relationship.