The Department of International Studies was established as a separate department in the Faculty of Social Sciences in 2017. Although the Department was established in 2017, the International Studies Degree Programme was offered since 2002 through the Department of Economics. The International Studies degree program was introduced by Professor Y.M. Sunanda Madduma Bandara, during his tenure as the Head of the Department of Economics from 2000 to 2003. Given the uniqueness of the degree program, it has received significant popularity among the students in the University as well as in the country. Today, over 200 students  pursue this degree program, and the Department also offers a diploma program in International Studies. The Department is run by young and energetic academic staff members. The present Head of the Department is  Dr. Chaminda Abeysinghe, who played an instrumental role in establishing the Department.