Faculty News

The University of Kelaniya welcomed Professor Theresa McGarry, a distinguished academic from the Department of Literature and Language, East Tennessee State University, USA, on 9th October 2025 under the International Visiting Fellowship Programme.

Hosted by the Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, Professor McGarry will contribute to teaching across the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Linguistics during her six-month fellowship. In addition to her teaching role, she will collaborate with Dr. Kapugollawe Anandakiththi Thero, Head of the Department of Linguistics, on joint research projects, including “A Typological and Syntactic Analysis of Conditional Structures in Colloquial Sinhala” and “The Sinhala lu Marker: Syntactic, Semantic, and Pragmatic Perspectives on Reportive Marking.”

On her arrival, Professor McGarry met with Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, at the Vice – Chancellor’s Office, to discuss avenues of academic collaboration and international partnership.

A Fulbright Scholar, Professor McGarry brings extensive expertise in syntax and applied linguistics. Her presence not only enriches the academic and research profile of the Faculty of Humanities but also reflects the commitment of the Department of Linguistics to fostering global scholarly exchange and strengthening the University’s international collaborations.

An international conference on 'The advancing steps of Hindi in various contexts,' jointly organized by the Department of Hindi Studies, University of Kelaniya, and 'Utpal' Journal, Jaipur, India, was successfully held on 12th September 2025 at the K14 Board Room of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya.

The event was organized to celebrate India's National Hindi Day which falls on the 14th of September, to share new knowledge, and to appreciate the contribution of Senior Professor Lakshman Senevirathne to Hindi in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Ankuran Dutta, Director of the Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre, Colombo, and Dr. Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities participated in the event as Chief Guests. In addition to the chief guests, Dr. Neetha Senevirathna, Head of the Department of Hindi Studies; Prof. Mukesh Kumar Mishra; Prof. Sudhir Soni; Prof. Pradeep Kumar; and Senior Prof. Lakshman Senevirathne addressed the gathering.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of the felicitation volume on Senior Professor Lakshman Senevirathne, appreciating his contribution to Hindi in Sri Lanka. The volume with 15 biographical articles was edited by Dr. Rajendra Ghode, Prof. Mukesh Kumar Mishra, and Mrs. Subhashini Rathnayake, and published by Yking Books, Jaipur. Next, the event featured the launch of ‘Kelaniya’ Sinhala-Hindi Dictionary compiled by Senior Professor Lakshman Senevirathne. This dictionary includes over 50,000 entries and 600 idioms. Furthermore, some other Hindi books written/edited by Indian scholars were launched during the occasion.

Later, several Indian and Sri Lankan scholars and researchers presented their research papers and reviews on several sub-tracks related to the development of the Hindi language and culture globally. Finally, presenters and participants were awarded with tokens of appreciation and certificates.

Indian scholars including Prof. Balram Gupta, Prof. Jayant Kar Sharma, Prof. Anita Nayar, Dr. Rajendra Ghode, Dr. Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Dr. Savita Tayde, Dr. Atul Kumar Pandey, and Hindi writer Sharmila Ghode joined the event. Moreover, Sri Lankan scholars from other universities, some scholars of the Faculty of Humanities, academic and non-academic staff members of the Department, Hindi teachers, other invitees, and undergraduates following the BA (Hons) in Hindi degree program were present at the occasion.

The Chinese students following the six-month Certificate Course in Sinhala offered by the Department of Sinhala, University of Kelaniya, met with Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University, on 10th September 2025 at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office.

The group comprised 18 students from Yunnan Minzu University and Beijing Foreign Studies University, China. During the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor discussed the students’ educational activities and shared her insights on their academic experience.

The event was graced by Mr. K. K. K. Dharmathilaka, Registrar; Professor Swarna Ihalagama, Head of the Department of Sinhala; Senior Professor Bihesh Indika Sampath; Ven. Professor Malwane Chandaratana Thero; Professor Kusum Herath; Senior Lecturer Sudesh Kawishwara, Course Coordinator; Senior Lecturer Neil Pushpakumara; and temporary staff members of the Department.

The Inauguration Ceremony of the Orientation Programme organized to welcome new undergraduates of the 2023/2024 intake of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities was held on the 12th of June 2025 from 08.30 a. m. onwards at the Sri Dharmaloka Hall of the University of Kelaniya. Accordingly, the orientation programme is scheduled to be held from the 12th to 17th of June 2025.

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

Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr. Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Dr. Kasun Fernando, Director of Student Affairs; Dr. K. R. N. Harshani, Deputy Director of the Student Affairs (Women); Rev. Bopeththe Somananda Thero, Deputy Director of Student Affairs (Clergy); Mrs. H. K. D. W. M. S. K. Hapuhinna, Deputy Registrar of the Academic Division; Mr. S. M. Janaka Ranjana, Assistant Registrar, Student Welfare Division; and academic staff and academic support staff of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Faculty of Humanities also participated at this occasion.