Department News

The Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, was proud to host the 8^th ACMC International Research Conference from 27^th to 29^th October 2022. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Mediated Realities: Challenges and Opportunities’ which address the profound changes that occurred in media and communication during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods in fields such as mass media, public relations, advertising, new media, health communication, education, culture, and diversity.

It was held as a hybrid conference. The opening ceremony was held in hybrid mode on 27th October 2022 at the Social Sciences Faculty Auditorium, University of Kelaniya.

There were two keynote speeches delivered by Emeritus Professor Sunanda Mahendra from the Department of Mass Communication and Dr. Elena E. Pernia, who joined virtually, from the University of the Philippines. While Professor M. M. Gunathilake, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, welcomed the invitees, Dr. Azman Azwan Azmawathi, President of ACMC delivered the opening remarks. Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice Chancellor of University of Kelaniya, the Chief Guest of the event, graced the occasion with her insightful opening address. The opening ceremony came to an end with the thanking keynotes delivered by Senior Lecturer Wijayananda Rupasinghe, Head of the Department of Mass Communication.

Fifty-seven research papers were present in this three-day conference with eighty-five scholars from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The closing ceremony held in virtually on 29 ^th October 2022 with the participation of research paper presenters, members of ACMC, academic staff of the Department of Mass Communication and Faculty of Social Sciences of University of Kelaniya.