The 3^rd International River Congress (IRC-3), jointly organized by the South Asian Institute for Advanced Research and Development (SAIARD); National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (NCAS), and the University of Kelaniya, under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Sri Lanka; was held on the 8^th and 9^th of November 2024 at the University of Kelaniya premises.

The special interest of the event was in riverine management from various disciplines, including chemical and mineral engineering, biomedical engineering and parasitology, histo-archaeology, geology, geography, etc. The event mainly focused on how and what measures are to be taken to restore the virgin quality of riverine in terms of achieving the long-term sustainable goals. 

The inaugural ceremony of the congress was honoured by the presence of Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Hon. Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, as the Chief Guest, while Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, and Prof. Neelima Gupta, Vice-chancellor of Dr. Harisingh Gour Sagar Central University, India, graced the occasion as the Guests of Honour. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Neelima Gupta. Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, and Prof. Prashanthi Narangoda, Director and Chairman/Council of Management of NCAS, also addressed the gathering during the event.

The inaugural ceremony also featured an awarding ceremony where Professor Nileema Gupta was awarded with the Prof. S. R. Basu Memorial Award, Mr. Yashwant Deval was awarded the Best River Rejuvenator Award, and Prof. Md. Manzoorul Kibria was awarded with the Best River Scientist of the Year 2024.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the book cover page “River and Research (Vol. - 2) was also launched during the event.

The event also witnessed the participation of Dr. Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, the Patron of IRC-3 and the Chairperson, SAIARD, and Professor N. Sakalasurya of the Department of Geography, University of Kelaniya, Joint Convener of IRC-3. Additionally, the Central Environmental Authority, Urban Development Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Irrigation, National Water Supply & Drainage Board, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), World Bank (Sri Lanka Division), Nippon-Koei (Japan), River Recycle Ltd., Finland, Ministry of Education, Greece South Asia Rainwater Network (SARNET), African Union Development Agency, and several other stakeholder agencies were also among the participants. The gathering was also comprised of local and international participants, some of whom participated online. See More

The second issue of “Thirasaara Magazine,” a magazine published annually by the Students’ Society of Development Studies, was launched by the Department of Geography of the University of Kelaniya on the 30th of October 2024 at Hall K2 002.

This event, aimed at promoting research and knowledge-sharing among students in Development Studies

The event was graced by Emeritus Prof. N. K. Dangalle as the chief guest, along with Professor Lal Mervin Dharmasiri, Senior Professor & Chair Head of the Department of Geography.

A highlight of the event was the awarding of the Emeritus N. K. Dangalle Gold Medal and a cash prize to Mr. Yalindu Jayaweera, for securing a first-class and the highest-Grade Point Average (GPA). This prestigious award, first introduced last year, continues to honour students who excel in the field, setting an inspiring standard for future scholars. 

Additionally, the event also saw the participation of the staff and the students of the Department of Geography, along with the staff members from the other departments. See More

The first awareness workshop under the project “Fostering Climate Change Action Ambassadors: Empowering Youth for Climate Resilience,” a collaboration between Janathakshan GTE Ltd., HSBC, and the Department of Sociology, University of Kelaniya, was launched on the 4^th of November 2024 at the Auditorium K2-003.

The workshop brought students and experts together to address critical climate issues, marking the beginning of a nationwide effort to cultivate informed climate advocates among university students.

The main objective of the workshop was to foster Sri Lankan university students into ambassadors for climate action, empowering them to advocate for mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and strategies to address loss and damage within their generation and broader society, ensuring the future of the country is prepared to plan, implement, and act in alignment with the changing climate realities.

The event was graced by the presence of Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, as the chief guest, along with Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Senior Professor K. Karunathilake, Head of the Department of Sociology.

Mrs. Manel Jayamanna, Regional Development Specialist, led discussions on the causes and science of climate change, greenhouse gases, and global warming during the technical sessions titled "Understanding the Science of Climate Change," during the first session. Furthermore, the discussion emphasized the urgency of addressing greenhouse gas emissions and their role in global warming.

In the next technical session, Dr. Manoj Ranaweera, Senior Lecturer from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, provided insights into the local and global impacts of climate change. Thus, Dr. Ranaweera’s session focused on climate impacts within Sri Lanka and beyond.

The workshop featured dynamic discussions and student-led initiatives, where attendees actively participated by creating a pledge banner to commit to reducing their carbon footprint. The event also marked a critical step toward fostering climate resilience through youth empowerment. The project will continue over the next two years, with advanced training sessions designed to prepare students as leaders in climate action, ensuring their capacity to influence sustainable practices and policies in the future.

The distinguished attendees included Dr. Janaka Hemathilaka, CEO of Janathakshan GTE Ltd.; Ms. Nilwala Ravihari, Project Manager at Janathakshan GTE Ltd.; Prof. Geethani Amaratunga; Senior Lecturer Dr. Sarath Vitharana; Senior Lecturer Mrs. H. A. Kumudu Sumedha Sanjeewani; Senior Lecturer Mrs. R. P. I. C. Rajapakse; Lecturer Mrs. W. M. Gayathri Panampitiya; Lecturer Mrs. Sachini Nisansala; Lecturer Mr. Auchithya Rathnayake; Assistant Lecturer Mr. K. G. Manujaya Eksith; Assistant Lecturer Ms. D. M. C. Dissanayake; and Assistant Lecturer Mrs. K. N. Haputhanthri. See More

Dr. Chris Haywood, Reader in Critical Masculinity Studies in the Department of Media, Culture and Heritage at Newcastle University, UK, met with Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice-chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, on the 6^th of November 2024 at the Vice-chancellor’s Office.

Dr. Chris Haywood and Dr. Manoj Jinadasa from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, are currently launching a collaborative research project funded by a British Academy Grant and an International Science Grant, focusing on Sri Lankan higher education and gender representation from a feminist perspective.

Dr. Haywood has published extensively in leading academic journals and authored influential books with respected publishers, including Routledge, Sage, Taylor & Francis, Springer, and Macmillan. His current research project, Becoming a Man in Sri Lanka: Understanding Post-Compulsory Education Trajectories in Sri Lanka, continues his exploration of the socio-cultural dimensions of masculinity.

Newcastle University and the University of Kelaniya are also working towards developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaborative research, with the aim of strengthening contributions at global, national, and local levels.

Present on the occasion were Professor M. M. Gunathilaka, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Senior Lecturer Wijayananda Rupasinghe, Head of the Department of Mass Communication; and Dr. Manoj Jinadasa from the Department of Mass Communication. See More