The Preksha Meditation Tour in Sri Lanka, organized by the Department of Philosophy in collaboration with Kalana Mithuru Sewana, University of Kelaniya, was successfully held on October 2, 2025, at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya.

The program was graced by the presence of Prof. M. M. Gunathilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Prof. S. S. Weligamage, former Director of Kalana Mithuru Sewana; Dr. K. R. N. Harshani, Director of Kalana Mithuru Sewana; Dr. Manoji Harishchandra, Head of the Department of Philosophy; Dr Chamila Siriwardene, coordinator of the program and all respected heads of the departments, along with professors, doctors, lecturers, non-academic staff members, and number of students.

The highlight of the event was the meditation session conducted by three international trainers from Preksha International: Ms. Neelam Barmecha, Ms. Chetna Bapna, and Ms. Garima Hiran. The trainers guided participants through a one-hour session focused on relaxation, mindfulness, and self-awareness. The participants experienced techniques of breathing, concentration, and deep meditation, which fostered inner calm and mental clarity.

Meditation, as emphasized during the session, is not only a practice of calming the mind but also a path toward holistic well-being. It helps to reduce stress, improve focus, and nurture emotional balance, which are vital in today’s fast-paced and demanding lifestyles. The session highlighted meditation as a practice of inner calm and holistic well-being. It reduces stress, improves focus, and nurtures emotional balance, which are essential in today’s busy lives. The program inspired staff and students to embrace mindfulness in daily routines, marking an important step in fostering peace, compassion, and spiritual growth within the university community.

SANGAMAM, the 10th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies and Cultural Festival, was successfully held on September 29, 2025, at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya. It was organized by the Sangamam Global Academy in collaboration with the University of Kelaniya, Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women, and Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), India.

The Sangamam Global Academy (SGA) is an organization founded by Mr. K. Dinesh Kumar as a Non-profit Organization for cooperation, exchange, and networking. SGA connects, creates, and restructures arts, education, and business environments that respond to growing demands, collaborate with people and teams across conventional boundaries, and explore ways to utilize new resources and engage with leading professionals.

Accordingly, the conference primarily aimed to disseminate knowledge and foster academic interaction. A cultural festival also took place on the same day at the Sri Dharmaloka Hall, University of Kelaniya, in the evening, in parallel with the conference.

Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, graced the event as the Chief Guest, while other honourable guests included Dr. N. Panchanathan, Vice Chancellor, Gandhigram Rural Institute, India; Dr. S. Padmavathi, Principal, SS Jain College for Women, India; Prof. M. M. Gunathilake, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences; Prof. A. G. Amarasinghe, Director, Research Centre for Social Sciences; and Prof. Anura Manatunga, Department of Archaeology.

Additionally, the event was attended by representatives from India, heads of the departments, academic staff members, and students of the University of Kelaniya.

The Undergraduate Research Conference on Social Sciences (URCSS 2025), organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya for the second consecutive time, was successfully held on 26th September 2025 at the faculty premises, under the precedence of Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The theme of this year’s conference was “Ensuring Sustainable Development through the Power of Social Science.”

A total of 258 final-year undergraduates of the Faculty of Social Sciences presented their research findings at this forum. The main objectives of the conference were to enhance students’ academic knowledge, research interests, and competencies; to improve career prospects of undergraduates; to apply knowledge and skills for the future development of the country; to strengthen research and awareness-building capacities among students; to explore new horizons in social science research; to guide young graduates in their research pursuits for national development; to provide a common platform for social science undergraduates to share views and experiences; and to strengthen the partnership among faculty of social sciences, graduates and the private sector.

During the conference, the Keynote Address was delivered by Senior Professor O. G. Dayarathna-Banda from the Department of Economics, University of Peradeniya, under the title “Ensuring Sustainable Development through the Power of Social Science.”

The Conference Chair was Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Conference Convener was Professor A. G. Amarasingha, Director, Research Centre for Social Sciences. Further, the event was attended by the heads of the departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences, academic staff members, and students.

Professor Nishan Sakalasooriya officially assumed duties as the new Head of the Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya. The appointment letter was presented to him by Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, on the 25th of September 2025 at the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

Professor Sakalasooriya is a senior academic in the Department of Geography with over two decades of academic and professional experience. His areas of specialization include Disaster Management, Sustainable Development, Regional Planning, and Political Ecology. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography, an MSSc in Geography, and a BA (Hons) in Geography, all from the University of Kelaniya.

His research primarily focuses on project evaluation, disaster risk reduction, sustainable approaches to regional development planning, and community governance for sustainable societies. In addition, he is an active member of the International Geographical Congress, the American Association of Geographers (AAG), and the Sri Lanka Geographers’ Association (SLAG). He has also contributed extensively as a resource person at various workshops, as a guest lecturer, and in curriculum development for Geography and Disaster Management programs in Sri Lanka.

The occasion was graced by the presence of Professor M. M. Gunathilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, along with academic staff members of the department, including Emeritus Cadre Chair Senior Professor N. K. Dangalla, Professor R. K. L. M. Dharmasiri, and Professor U.A. Chandrasena.