The Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, hosted a guest lecture by Prof. Manual Selvaraj Bexci, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Arts, Psychology, and Humanities at Lincoln University College, Malaysia. The event, held on December 10, 2025, at the Social Sciences Faculty New Auditorium, focused on ‘Identifying Research Readiness in Media and Communication Studies.’

Prof. Bexci, an expert in medical journalism, health communication, ICT-based health models, political economy, and cultural heritage communication, highlighted key competencies required for emerging researchers and discussed the evolving challenges of conducting media and communication research in the digital era.

The session was warmly welcomed and attended by Dr. Manoj Jinadasa, Head of the Department of Mass Communication; Dr. Achala Abeykoon, Research Unit Coordinator; Dr. Mangala Keerthy Pasquel; Senior Lecturer Amali Uthpala Nandasiri; and Lecturers Ayesh Wijesinghe, Dasini Madurasinghe, Sudesh Abeynayaka, Janani Pamodya, Nipuni Bagya, and Hansika Sewwandi, along with other academic staff. Academics from the Departments of International Studies and Archaeology, including Prof. Chaminda Abesinghe and Prof. Chandima Bigahawatta, were also present.

Lecturer Dasini Madurasinghe compered the event, while Dr. Manoj Jinadasa led the panel discussion following the lecture. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students from Mass Communication, Public Relations, and Media Management participated actively.

Importantly, the guest lecture was coordinated by Nithya Sewwandi, an MPhil postgraduate of the Department of Mass Communication, who is also a postgraduate supervisee of Prof. Bexci at Lincoln University Malaysia.

The second issue of Volume 1 of the Sri Lanka Journal of Communication, the English-language, biannual, double-blind, peer-reviewed academic publication of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya, was officially presented to Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, on 18^th November 2025 at the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

Senior Lecturer Dr. Manoj Jinadasa, Head of the Department of Mass Communication; Senior Lecturer Dr. Aruna Lokuliyana, the Chief Editor; and Probationary Lecturer (Ms.) Dasini I. Madurasinghe, the Assistant Editor, were present on this occasion.

The school project titled “Sisuwara,” organized by the Sixth Batch of the Higher Diploma in Communication and Public Relations offered by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, was successfully held on 15th November 2025 at Saraswathi Tamil Maha Vidyalaya, Yakkalamulla, Galle.

The event was conducted under the course unit Communication and Public Relations Planning Project. Under the theme “Empowering Students for a Future of Virtue, Wisdom, and Strength,” several project activities were carried out with the aim of promoting mental health and digital literacy among schoolchildren.

As part of the project, a school workshop was organized with the participation of students, teachers, and parents. The first session, titled “Digital Media Space and Digital Media Literacy,” was conducted by Dr. Manoj Jinadasa, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya. The second session was conducted by Senior Lecturer Saman Rajapaksha of the Department of Mass Communication, and Director of the Communication and Media Unit, on the theme “Education, Morality, and Values.”

In conjunction with the workshop, several development initiatives were completed: the renovation of the school’s main hall, donation of sound management equipment and chairs, donation of books to the library, and provision of sanitary facilities, sports equipment, and school supplies.

Mr. T. S. Rajendran, Principal of Saraswathi Tamil Maha Vidyalaya; teachers; students from Grades 9 to 13; and parents participated in the event, which also featured performances showcasing the artistic talents of both the Higher Diploma students and the schoolchildren.

The event was graced by the presence of Senior Lecturer Amali Uthpala Nandasiri, Coordinator of the Higher Diploma in Communication and Public Relations; Senior Lecturer Darshana Somarathne, Deputy Director of the Centre for Distance and Continuing Education; Lecturer Ayesh Wijayasinghe; Assistant Lecturer Sudesh Abeynayaka; and Ms. Koshika Jayawardhana, Assistant Coordinator of the Higher Diploma in Communication and Public Relations.

Additionally, the event was attended by several distinguished invitees, including Ms. V. A. V. D. P. Rasanjani, Divisional Secretary, Yakkalamulla; Mr. D. H. A. Athula Sirilal, Divisional Director of Education, Kottawa; Inspector of Police Mr. Hettiarachchi, Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Yakkalamulla; Ms. S. H. Renuka, Chief Nursing Officer, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Office, Yakkalamulla; Ms. H. D. D. R. Wijewardene, Child Rights Promotion Officer, Divisional Secretariat, Yakkalamulla; Mr. Sudheera Madhuranga, Grama Niladhari; Ms. Y. A. D. W. Gayanthi, Family Health Service Officer, Nakiyadeniya; Ms. Achala Abeyrathne, Economic Development Officer, Nakiyadeniya; Mr. Sena Bandu Gamage, Samurdhi Development Officer, Nakiyadeniya; and Ms. Rangika, Estate Welfare Officer, Thalangahawatta. 

The first guest lecture of the lecture series organized by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, to celebrate the centenary of Sri Lankan radio was successfully held on November 26, 2025, at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The session was conducted by Mr. Indika Jayaratne, Director of Research, Training, and Foreign Relations at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, who delivered an insightful lecture titled “The Century of Radio Communication and Presenter Eras.”

The event was graced by the presence of Dr. Manoj Jinadasa, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Mass Communication, together with Senior Lecturer Saman Rajapaksha, Senior Lecturer Amali Uthpala Nandasiri, Assistant Lecturer Hansika Sewwandi, Assistant Lecturer Nipuni Bhagya, Assistant Lecturer Janani Pamodya, and the first- and second-year students of the BA (Hons) in Mass Communication degree programme offered by the Department of Mass Communication.