Previous Next

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

The Department of Mass Communication is pleased to extend its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Achala Abeykoon on receiving the Senate Award for publishing a book chapter in a prestigious internationally indexed academic book.

The book chapter titled “Workplace Happiness, Journalism and COVID-19 in South Asia,” authored by Dr. Achala Abeykoon et al., has been published in the academic book Happiness in Journalism, edited by Valérie Bélair-Gagnon, Avery E. Holton, Mark Deuze, and Claudia Mellado, and published by the renowned academic publisher Routledge.

This publication represents a significant contribution to global journalism studies, particularly in advancing understanding of workplace happiness and the professional challenges faced by journalists in South Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recognition by the Senate highlights the academic excellence and international research impact of the department’s scholarly work.

🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003364597

🔗 Publisher Link: https://routledge.pub/Happiness-in-Journalism

The Department congratulates Dr. Achala Abeykoon on this remarkable achievement and wishes her continued success in future research endeavors.

Previous Next

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Senior Lecturer Saman Rajapaksha of the Department of Mass Communication, who serves as the Director of the Communication and Media Unit, was honored for being one of the most successful directors of centers/units at the university in 2025, marking his fourth consecutive year of recognition, during the Ceremony of Long Service Awards and Vice-Chancellor’s Awards of the University of Kelaniya, held on the 01st of January 2026 at the Sri Dharmaloka Hall of the University of Kelaniya.

Your strategic foresight, administrative excellence, and deep commitment to academic and institutional growth have played a pivotal role in elevating the Centre/Unit to new heights. Your exemplary contributions continue to motivate peers and inspire young academicians, creating a lasting legacy of excellence and integrity.

We wish you continued success, robust health, and renewed energy in all your future endeavors. May you achieve even greater milestones and receive many more well-deserved accolades.💫

Previous Next

User Rating: 5 / 5

Star ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar Active

The Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, is pleased to announce that “Becoming Me,” a short film directed by Sudesh Abeynayaka, Lecturer (Temporary), has been officially selected for three prestigious film festivals.

  • Utsav International Film Festival, Mumbai, India

  • 15th Agenda 14 Short Film Festival 2025, Colombo (04–07 December 2025)

  • Cinewave Youth Film Festival 2025, Colombo (07–08 December 2025)

The Department is also proud to note that several of our students contributed to the film as part of the cast and crew, including Dilhara Samaraweera, Asinsala Perera, Jeewantha Gunawardana, Geeth Malan Hewamanage,Namal Sajith Jayasiri and Pamuditha Sandamini. Their creative involvement reflects the growing talent nurtured within the department.

Sudesh Abeynayaka is an emerging Sri Lankan filmmaker whose award-winning works explore social issues and cultural narratives. He holds a specialist degree in Mass Communication and currently serves as a Temporary Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, while continuing his work as a filmmaker, counsellor, and researcher.

The Department extends its warm congratulations to the director and the student team on this remarkable achievement.

Previous Next

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Lecturers (Temporary) Sudesh Abeynayaka, Nipuni Bhagya, and Jananee Pramodya from our department participated in the Conference on Media and Communication Studies held in Kunming, China, on 1–2 November 2025, under the theme “Communication to Empower Regional Development.”

The conference was hosted by the Journalism and Communication Sub-Committee of the South and Southeast Asian University Network and the School of Journalism of Yunnan University, and co-organised by the Lancang-Mekong International Channel of Yunnan Radio and Television Station, the National Management Degree College, Myanmar, and Krirk University, Thailand.

Professor Chen Keqing, Vice President of Yunnan University, delivered the welcoming speech at the academic conference. More than 100 experts, scholars, university leaders, and faculty and student representatives from China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, Nepal, Thailand, and the Philippines discussed various topics related to empowering regional high-quality development through communication.

The conference aimed to foster consensus among young scholars through academic dialogue, expand the depth and breadth of industry-academic research activities within the alliance, strengthen joint research mechanisms, promote course sharing and student exchanges, and enhance academic collaboration toward building a community with a shared future for China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

During the conference, Assistant Lecturer Sudesh Abeynayaka presented his research titled “Identifying the Cultural Hegemony of Sri Lankan Pornographic Channels on Pornhub: A Critical Communication Analysis.” Assistant Lecturer Nipuni Bhagya presented her paper titled “An Analysis of SLBC’s ‘Mihithalaya’ Programme in Promoting Environmental Awareness and Sustainable Development in Sri Lanka,” while Assistant Lecturer Jananee Pramodya presented “Communicating Sustainable Food Practices through YouTube Food Culture Channels: A Case Study of ‘Traditional Me’ in Sri Lanka.”

 

Previous Next

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Lecturer Ileka Ruwanpathirana participated as a research presenter in the International Research Symposium of Rajarata University 2025 (ISYMRU 2025), held on October 8th and 9th at Rajarata University.

She was awarded 2nd Place – Best Presenter in Social Sciences for her insightful research presentation titled:

“An Auto-ethnographic Inquiry into the Role of the Film Producer in Sri Lankan Cinema.”

This achievement highlights her dedication to academic excellence and her valuable contribution to the field of Social Sciences, particularly in the context of Sri Lankan cinema.

© {2018 - 2025} 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱. 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘺 𝘔𝘈𝘊𝘖 𝘞𝘦𝘣 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮

Search