The Department of Economics of the University of Kelaniya hosted the 54^th quarterly meeting of the Sri Lanka Forum of University Economists (SLFUE) on 13^th June 2025 at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Senior Professor Nilanthi Renuka De Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Professor W. M. Semasinghe, Head of the Department of Economics; Professor Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, Founder of the SLFUE; and university economists across the country gathered to the occasion.

The meeting was preceded by a technical workshop, a keynote speech and the pre-review of the Journal of Economic Research (SLJER) Vol.12, No.2. Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, the Professorial Fellow in Economics and Trade at Gateway House in Mumbai and a Visiting Senior Fellow at ODI Global in London, delivered the Keynote Speech on “Geopolitics, Global Trade Policy Uncertainty and South Asia’s Trade Architecture”. A comprehensive pre-review of the next volume of the SLJER by Professor M. M. Gunatilake. The workshop on the use of NVivo software, a powerful tool widely utilized in qualitative data analysis, was conducted by Dr. Nilantha Ramanayake, Head of the Department of Sport Science & Physical Education, at the IT Lab of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Additionally, the event witnessed the participation of the academic staff members of the University of Kelaniya. 

The inauguration ceremony for the 6th Batch of the Higher Diploma in Communication and Public Relations 2025, offered by the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, was successfully held on June 15, 2025, at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

An insightful keynote speech titled “Public Relations, Communication and Tradition,” was delivered by Emeritus Professor Chandrasiri Rajapksha, during the event.

Further, the ceremony was graced by the presence of Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, as the chief guest.

Additionally, the event also witnessed the presence of Senior Lecturer Dr. Manoj Jinadasa, Head of the Department of Mass Communication; Dr. Mapa Thilakarathna; Senior Lecturer Amali Uthpala Nandasiri, Coordinator of the Higher Diploma in Communication and Public Relations; academic staff members of the Department of Mass Communication; and students of the diploma program

A guest lecture titled "Best Practices, Challenges and Future Prospects in Sustainability Initiatives in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry – A Case Study of New Zealand" was successfully held on the 28th of May 2025 at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya. The event was organized by the Department of Archaeology – Students’ Union, Tourism and Cultural Resources Management in collaboration with the New Zealand High Commission, Sri Lanka.

The session featured an insightful presentation by Associate Professor Dr. Julia N. Albrecht from the Department of Tourism, University of Otago, New Zealand, a renowned academic and expert in the fields of sustainable tourism, destination management, and visitor governance.

Dr. Albrecht shared a wealth of knowledge on how New Zealand has pioneered sustainable tourism initiatives, focusing on strategies that not only enhance environmental conservation but also promote inclusive tourism development. She emphasized the vital role of indigenous community involvement in tourism planning and decision-making, particularly in preserving cultural values and ensuring that benefits are equitably shared.

The lecture also addressed some of the pressing challenges faced by New Zealand, such as the exceeding of carrying capacity in popular tourist destinations, which impacts both environmental quality and tourist satisfaction. Through real-world case studies and data-driven insights, Dr. Albrecht illustrated how thoughtful, collaborative planning can create more resilient and responsible tourism models.

Following the presentation, a lively Q&A session took place, where Dr. Albrecht responded to questions from students and academic staff members with clarity, warmth, and enthusiasm. Her engaging delivery and thoughtful perspectives made the session highly interactive and enriching for all participants.

The event was graced by the presence of Ms. Gabrielle Isaak, Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, New Zealand High Commission; Professor M. M. Gunathilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; and Mrs. Umanga Rammunugoda, Head of the Department of Archaeology, alongside several senior lecturers, academic staff, and undergraduates.

This lecture offered a timely reminder of the importance of sustainability in shaping the future of global tourism and provided valuable insights for tourism students and professionals alike.

Undergraduates from the Public Relations and Media Management (PRMM) degree program at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, participated in a workshop jointly organized by the Public Relations Association of Sri Lanka (PRASL) and the Department of Mass Communication in collaboration with the School of Communications & Reputation (SCoRe), India. The workshop was held on June 05, 2025, at the Studio of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya.

Ms. Tamanna Sign, Head of Student Affairs at SCoRe, facilitated the workshop. She delivered an engaging and informative session on the public relations landscape in India, incorporating real-world Indian PR campaigns to prompt interactive discussions. The session concluded with an insightful discussion, during which students shared their key takeaways and reflected on the differences between the PR industries in Sri Lanka and India.

This valuable learning opportunity was made possible through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between PRASL and the University of Kelaniya, aimed at fostering international exposure for PRMM undergraduates and connecting them with global PR industry stakeholders.

The event was attended by Dr. Manoj Jinadasa, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Mass Communication; Mr. Mushthak Ahemd, President of PRASL; Mr. Ashan Jayathilake, Secretary of PRASL; Ms. Twisha Gupta, Marketing and Communication Executive at SCoRe; Ms. Dasini I. Madurasinghe, Subject Coordinator of the PRMM degree program; and academic staff members of the Department of Mass Communication.