A felicitation ceremony honouring Professor Wimal Dissanayake, one of the founding lecturers of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya, was held on 16 January 2026 at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The ceremony, organised by the Department of Mass Communication, was graced by the presence of Professor Wimal Dissanayake and his beloved wife, Dorin Dissanayake, who joined the event via Zoom.

The event was held under the patronage of Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya.

Four keynote lectures were delivered by distinguished academics. Emeritus Professor Kulatilaka Kumarasinghe delivered a lecture titled “An Introduction to Prof. Wimal Dissanayake’s Literary Career.” Chandrasiri Rajapaksha spoke on “The Legacy of Prof. Wimal Dissanayake in Communication,” while Senior Lecturer Chinthaka Ranasinghe discussed “Prof. Wimal Dissanayake’s Contribution to Literary Criticism.” Dr Manoj Jinadasa delivered a lecture titled “The Global Brand of Asian Communication: Prof. Wimal Dissanayake.”

Key highlights of the event included the screening of a short documentary on Professor Dissanayake and the official presentation of the felicitation volume to the Vice-Chancellor. In addition, a souvenir was launched in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Department of Mass Communication.

The event was further graced by the presence of Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr. Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Emeritus Professor Sunanda Mahendra; Senior Professor Swarna Ihalagama, Head of the Department of Sinhala; Ven. Professor Nedalagamuwe Dhammadinna Thero, Head of the Department of Modern  Languages; Dr Manoj Jinadasa, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Mass Communication; Chair and Senior Professor Nimal Mallawarachchi; Ven. Professor Malwane Chandrarathana Thero; Professor Gunawardana Nanayakkara; Professor Jinadasa Danansuriya; and Professor Herath Madana Bandara, along with other lecturers of the department.

Also in attendance were Mr Indika Jayaratne, Director of Research Training and Foreign Relations at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC); Heads of the Faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities; and academic staff members and students of the Department of Mass Communication.

Furthermore, Dr Ajantha Hapuarachchi, Professor Sunethra Kankanamge, and other lecturers from the Departments of Sinhala and Mass Communication of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura; the Department of Communication and Creative Arts, Sri Palee Campus; the University of Peradeniya; and Nagananda University of Kelaniya participated in the event. Senior Lecturer Senaka Senevirathna, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Nagananda International Institute of Buddhist Studies; Dr. Sunil Sarath Perera; Mohan Dharmarathna; Uvidu Kumarathunga; as well as alumni members of the Department of Mass Communication were also present. 

“Sannasa 2025,” the cultural show organized by the second-year students of the BA Honours in Public Relations and Media Management degree programme offered by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, was successfully held on 6 January 2026 at the Sri Dharmaloka Hall of the University.

Held under the theme “Tracing the Journey of Sri Lankan Public Relations,” the event was organized in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the BA Honours in Public Relations and Media Management degree programme at the University of Kelaniya.

The main objectives of the event were to celebrate a decade of the degree programme and to raise social and student awareness of the field of public relations.

The event was colourful, with the full support and contributions of all departments and the Arts Council of the University of Kelaniya. The programme featured a variety of performances that creatively showcased the evolution of public relations and highlighted its contemporary significance.

The event was graced by Professor Uda Hettige, Chairman of the Arts Council; Dr Manoj Jinadasa, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Mass Communication; Senior Lecturer Saman Rajapaksha, Director of the Communication and Media Unit; members of the academic staff of the Department of Mass Communication; and students of the University of Kelaniya.

The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, successfully held its Dean’s List Award Ceremony 2025 on January 2, 2025, for the second consecutive time at the Faculty Auditorium. The ceremony recognized outstanding undergraduates who achieved exceptional academic performance during the academic year 2022/2023.

A total of 184 undergraduates representing 12 departments within the Faculty were honoured and awarded Dean’s List certificates in recognition of their academic excellence. The event was organized by the Faculty Quality Assurance Cell (QAC) to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication and achievements of high-performing students in the Faculty.

The ceremony was graced by Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, along with the Heads of Departments, members of the Faculty Quality Assurance Unit, academic staff members, and the award-winning students. Delivering his remarks, the Dean commended the undergraduates for their commitment and hard work, noting that their accomplishments reflect the high academic standards upheld by the Faculty. He also expressed appreciation for the continued efforts of both academic and administrative staff in fostering a culture of excellence and integrity within the University.

The Dean’s List Award Ceremony will continue to be held annually at the conclusion of each academic year to celebrate the achievements of outstanding students and to reaffirm the Faculty’s enduring commitment to academic excellence and student development. 

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The Junior Academics Staff Research Symposium – 2025, organized by the Staff Development Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, was successfully held on 19th December 2025 at the Social Sciences Faculty Auditorium. The symposium brought together junior academics, senior scholars, and invited experts to promote academic dialogue and strengthen the research culture within the Faculty.

The symposium was organized in collaboration with the Research Centre for Social Sciences (RCSS), University of Kelaniya, and played a significant role in enhancing research engagement, academic networking, and professional development among junior academic staff.

The symposium featured Dr Jan Libich, Associate Professor at La Trobe University, Australia, as the Keynote Speaker. His keynote address offered insightful perspectives on contemporary research trends and academic development in the field of social sciences. The event was chaired by Dr Thumira Gunasena from the Department of International Studies, coordinator of the Staff Development programme of the University of Kelaniya. The panel discussion included distinguished academics, namely Dr Nilantha Ramanayaka, Head of the Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Kelaniya; Dr Chris Haywood from Newcastle University, United Kingdom; and Professor Dr G. Kulanthaivel from the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research, India. Their expertise and constructive engagement enriched the academic quality of the symposium and provided valuable guidance to emerging researchers.

The event was conducted under the theme ‘Bridging the Past, Present, and Future: Interdisciplinary Insights into Society,’ emphasizing the value of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding social issues and contributing to knowledge production in the social sciences. The symposium provided a platform for junior academic staff to present their research findings, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful scholarly discussions.

Further, the Symposium was attended by the heads of the departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences, along with the academic staff members of the University of Kelaniya, and presenters.