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.
