The Awarding Ceremony for the Diploma in Correction and Rehabilitation for Prison Officers and Higher Diploma in Correction and Rehabilitation took place on the 9^th of December 2023 at the prestigious Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya.

This noteworthy event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including Professor Gunatilake, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Mr. Thusara Upuldeniya, Commissioner General of Prison Department, SSP Prasad Hemantha Kumara, Director Training, Prison Training School, and Mr. Chandraththna Pallegama, Former Commissioner General of the Prison Department.

The ceremony was a gathering of excellence, with 100 accomplished awardees and Heads of Departments in Social Sciences and staff from the Department of Sociology participating in this celebration. The coordination of this event was done by the former coordinators, Senior Lecturer Dr. Anusha Edirisinghe, and Senior Lecturer Mr. Sudeera Jayaweera.

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The Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS) University of Kelaniya, in collaboration with RCSS, University of Kelaniya and Bharathidasan University India, successfully held its 5th International Conference on Library and Information Management (ICLIM -2023) on 29th - 30th November 2023 at the University Premises.

The theme of the conference was “Re-engineering Library and Information Services through Collaborative Strategies: A way forward.”  Nine sub-themes majoring in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS), including other disciplines in Humanities and Social Sciences, were covered in the ICLIM 2023.

Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice Chancellor, University of Kelaniya, was the Chief Guest at the ceremony. Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission of India, was the Guest of Honour at the occasion. As a foreign invitee, Prof. Ankuran Dutta, Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, graced the occasion. Prof S.Srinivasaragavan, Bharathidasan University, India, was the keynote Speaker. Dr P. Venkata Rao, Director of Knowledge Management, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, India, graced the occasion as the Theme Speaker.

Representing the University of Kelaniya, Prof. M.M Gunathilake, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences; Senior Prof. N. A. K. P. J. Seneviratne, Chairman, Research Council; Senior Prof. M.K Weerasinghe, Conference Chair and Head of the Department; Senior Prof W.A Weerasooriya, Conference Chair, Dr. C.C Jayasundara, Librarian, Deans and staff of other faculties and academic members of the Department and other distinguished local and foreign invitees graced the inaugural ceremony.

The conference was held in conjunction with commemorating the 50th anniversary of DLIS and ended with a valedictory session comprising a team of Senior LIS local and foreign experts. Prof R. Balasubramani Chaired the Session. Senior Prof W.A. Weerasooriya, Dr P. Venkata Rao, Mr. R. Maheswaran, and Dr. T. Pratheepan were the Panel Members. 

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A memorandum of understanding between the College of Human and Social Sciences of the Kanazawa University, Japan, and the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Kelaniya was signed on 5^th December 2023 at the Faculty of Humanities Auditorium.

The MoU was signed by Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, and Professor Kaname Miura, Dean of the College of Human and Social Sciences, Kanazawa University, Japan.

Mr. N. Nalika Kandewatta, Assistant Registrar of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Senior Lecturer M. K. A. Anoma Rathnayaka, Head of the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, Senior Lecturer Dr. Charika Wickramaratne, Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Professor Tetsuya Sagawa, Ms. Noriko Hamura, and Mr. Jun Mogami from the College of Human and Social Sciences, Kanazawa University, Japan were present at this occasion online.

This agreement is designed to provide opportunities for social science subjects to update their knowledge and discover new knowledge through educational exchanges, higher education opportunities, research activities, research conferences, and conducting research projects with Kanazawa University not only for the Sports and Recreation Management Degree Students of the Sports Science and Physical Education Department but also the Students and Lecturers of other subjects of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya.

A special feature of this is the agreement to provide scholarships from Japan to students and scholars selected from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Kelaniya in the exchange programs between the two faculties.

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In honor of the 50^th remembrance year of Pablo Neruda, the renowned Chilean poet, Nobel Prize winner, and diplomat who once served in Sri Lanka, a commemorative event was held at the Senate Room of the University of Kelaniya on the 1^st of December 2023.

This event was initiated by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in India, inviting the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya as the host. The event was held to present the book named “සෙයිලාන් දූපතේ දීප්තිමත් හුදෙකලාව” translation of a chapter of Pablo Neruda’s Memoirs to the Library of the University of Kelaniya and to the Ministry of Education to be distributed among national school libraries. This book was translated by the renowned author Mrs. Indrani Rathnasekara.

His Excellency Juan Angulo, Ambassador of Chile in India, concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, and his spouse graced the event as chief guests, where Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, warmly welcomed them on behalf of the university. Addressing the distinguished audience, Ambassador Juan Angulo shared profound insights into Pablo Neruda’s invaluable contributions to Chilean literature and his diplomatic service.

Dr. Darshana Samaraweera, Deputy Director General National Institute of Education, delivered the keynote speech praising the meticulous translation of the book and providing a comprehensive overview of Pablo Neruda’s legacy. Further, Professor M. M. Gunatilake and Senior Lecturer Wijayananda Rupasinghe, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, welcomed the audience, addressing the importance of the event.

A token presentation of the translated book was the highlight of the event, as Ambassador Juan Angulo and Mrs. Indrani Rathnasekara handed over copies to Dr. C. C. Jayasundara, Librarian of the University of Kelaniya, and Mr. Sanath Jayalath, Director of National Schools at the Ministry of Education.

The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Mr. Niluka Kadurugamuwa, Acting Director General of South Asia and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Asoka Dias, Director of MBC and MTV Network, and Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication. Additionally, Heads of Departments from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Faculty of Humanities, along with academic staff members from the Department of Mass Communication and both faculties, were present to witness and celebrate this literary milestone.

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