Professor R. A. Seetha P. Bandara officially assumed duties as the Head of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, on 6^th April 2026 at the Department premises. Effective from 25th March 2026, this well-deserved appointment reflects her distinguished academic career, exceptional leadership, and unwavering commitment to higher education and research.

Professor Bandara is a respected scholar in the field of economics, with extensive expertise in poverty, migration, trade liberalization, and economic modeling. A proud alumna of the University of Kelaniya, she graduated with First Class Honours in Economics and went on to achieve numerous academic milestones, including postgraduate qualifications in Social Statistics and Economics, an MA in International Relations from Waseda University, Japan, and a PhD in Economics from the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to intellectual excellence and global academic engagement.

Throughout her career, Professor Bandara has played a vital role in academic leadership and institutional development. She has served as Coordinator of the MA/MSSc Economics Program, Deputy Director of Training at the Centre for Distance and Continuing Education, and contributed significantly to curriculum development within the Faculty of Social Sciences. Her research contributions, particularly in poverty analysis, labour migration, and economic policy have enriched both academic scholarship and policy discourse in Sri Lanka.

Beyond the university, she has provided national-level leadership through her service as Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Foundation and as a Board Member of several key institutions, including the National Education Commission, Consumer Affairs Authority, Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, and the National Institute of Labour Studies. These roles reflect her broader commitment to national development and evidence-based policymaking.

Professor Bandara’s assumption of duties as Head of the Department of Economics marks an important milestone for the department. Her academic excellence, administrative experience, and inclusive leadership will undoubtedly strengthen research culture, enhance academic standards, and guide the department toward new achievements. Her dedication, professionalism, and vision will inspire both staff and students alike.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of Professor Sunanda Madduma Bandara, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya; Senior Professor A. W. K. Wasantha Subasinghe, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine; Professor Chaminda Abyesinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Professor Jeewantha Premaratne, Dean of the Faculty of Science; Mr K. K. K. Dharmathilaka, Registrar of the University; Ms U. T. M. I. D. Tennakoon, Bursar; Heads of the Departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences; and the academic staff members of the University.

Professor L. D. Sarath Vitharana officially assumed duties as the Head of the Department of Sociology, University of Kelaniya, on 6 April 2026 at the Department of Sociology premises. 

Professor Vitharana commenced his academic career at the University of Kelaniya on 1 January 2003. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer Grade II in 2008 and to Senior Lecturer Grade I in 2014. In recognition of his academic excellence and service, he was elevated to the rank of Professor in 2022.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Sociology in 1998 from the University of Kelaniya. He later obtained his MSSc Degree in Sociology in 2001 from the same university. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, in 2010.

Professor Vitharana’s research interests include Development Sociology, Political Sociology, and Sri Lankan Society and Culture.

Professor Chaminda Abeysinghe assumed duties as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, on 26th March 2026 at the Faculty Office of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The appointment letter was officially handed over to the Dean by Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya.

Notably, he is the first Dean elected from the Department of International Studies, marking a significant milestone for the department and the faculty. He is a distinguished scholar in Asian Politics, International Relations, and Geopolitics, with extensive experience in academic leadership, research, and national policy engagement. His research interests include decentralization and development, local governance, Sino-Indian relations, South Asian politics, and Indian Ocean geopolitics.

Professor Abeysinghe previously served as Professor and Head of the Department of International Studies at the University of Kelaniya, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening academic programs, promoting a vibrant research culture, and enhancing national and international academic engagement. In addition, he has served as a Professor at Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan, further broadening his international academic exposure and research collaboration.

He obtained his BA (Special) in Political Science from the University of Kelaniya in 2001. He later completed his Master’s degree in International Relations at Waseda University, Japan, with distinction under the JICA scholarship (2005–2007). He earned his PhD from Meiji University, Japan (2007–2013), with a dissertation titled “The Impact of Decentralization on Development: A Study of the Provincial Councils System in Sri Lanka.” His doctoral research contributed significantly to debates on governance, decentralization, and development in Sri Lanka.

Professor Abeysinghe has published and presented widely on decentralization, regional conflicts, and great-power rivalry in the Indian Ocean region. His research provides important insights into the political and economic implications of regional power competition and governance reforms, particularly for small states. He has delivered keynote speeches and chaired sessions at numerous international and national conferences, contributing actively to academic dialogue and collaboration.

In addition to his academic work, Professor Abeysinghe has supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and has contributed to curriculum development and research capacity building. He has also served as a Visiting Lecturer at the National Defence College and the National Police Training Centre in Sri Lanka, delivering lectures on geopolitics, international relations, and security studies.

Professor Abeysinghe has also held important administrative and professional roles, including Director of Student Affairs at the University of Kelaniya, and leadership positions within the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) and the University of Kelaniya Teachers’ Association (KUTA). Beyond academia, he has contributed to national development as a Board Member of the National Youth Corps and the National Enterprise Development Authority, supporting youth empowerment and entrepreneurship initiatives.

As Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Chaminda Abeysinghe brings extensive academic experience, international exposure, and visionary leadership, with a strong commitment to advancing teaching, research, and institutional development at the University of Kelaniya.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of Professor Sunanda Madduma Bandara, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya; Senior Professor P. A. Paranagama, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies; Professor Bandara Wanninayake, Dean of Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies; Professor Dhammika Weerasinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Technology; Dr Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Professor Narada Fernando, Professor at the Department of Finance and Chairman of People’s Bank; Heads of the Departments; and academic and non-academic staff members of the University of Kelaniya.

Ven. Dr. Kumbukandana Rewatha Thero, Senior Lecturer (Grade I), assumed duties as the new Head of the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, on 21 March 2026 at the department premises.

Ven. Dr. Rewatha Thero obtained his BA (Honours) Degree in Psychology with a First Class in 2007 from the University of Peradeniya. He subsequently completed his Master of Philosophy Degree at the University of Kelaniya and his Doctoral Degree at the Sri Lanka Bhiksu University, Sri Lanka.

Notably, he was selected as the first permanent lecturer in Psychology in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Kelaniya. Furthermore, he holds the distinction of being appointed as the first Head of the Unit of Psychology within the Department of Philosophy, which was established in 2022.

The event was attended by the academic staff members of the Department of Philosophy and other departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences.