Faculty News

A special lecture titled ‘The Ramayana and the Role of University Humanities in Public Life’ was delivered on the 5th of December 2023 by Dr Justin W. Henry, Bhagwan Padma Prabhu Endowed Assistant Professor of the Department of Religious Studies, University of South Florida, USA. The event was organized by the Department of Linguistics and was held in the K14 boardroom of the Faculty of Humanities.

The academic staff members of the Department of Linguistics and the Faculty of Humanities; internal students reading Linguistics, Translation Studies, and Translation Methods; and postgraduate and diploma students participated in the event. The purpose of the event was to expand academic horizons and strengthen international relations through multidisciplinary studies.

Dr Justin W. Henry has worked with the Department of Linguistics as a visiting research fellow from 2008 to 2009 and has spent several years in Sri Lanka studying Sinhala, Sanskrit, Pali, and Tamil languages, and religious literature.

The lecture was followed by a discussion session with the participation of the academic staff members and the students. Dr Henry donated copies of his book ‘Ravana’s Kingdom - The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below’ to the University Library and the Department Library.

Dr Henry met Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, and Dr Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, after the event and discussed the possibilities of extending the academic partnership.

Professor Dilrukshi Ratnayake, Professor of Japanese Language of the Department of Modern Languages, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya was awarded Foreign Minister’s Commendation on 20th October 2023 by His Excellency MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka.

Prof. Dilrukshi Ratnayake is a distinguished professor who has done a great service for the advancement of the Japanese language in Sri Lanka and has devoted a lot to improving the friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan.

In September 2002, she was selected for the Southwest Asian Youth Invitation Program conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and was also able to receive the Monbusho scholarship offered by the Japanese government in 2005. She received her M.Phil. and Ph.D. from the University of Nagoya in Japan.

She first started her career as a Japanese language teacher and later joined the University of Kelaniya. Currently, she is working as a Senior Lecturer Grade 1 in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Kelaniya.

At the award ceremony, the Japanese ambassador highly appreciated the excellent service rendered by the professor and also offered his warm greetings.

The award is presented to individuals and organizations that have provided outstanding service to promote friendship and understanding between Japan and other countries, and the purpose of this award is to gain the support of the Japanese people for the activities of the recipients.

Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, and Professor Emeritus Janaka De Silva also graced this awarding ceremony.

The 1st National Conference on Sinhala Studies (NCSS) 2023, organized by the Department of Sinhala, University of Kelaniya was successfully held on the 24th of October 2023, at the University of Kelaniya, under the theme of Cultural Identity and Sinhala Literary Studies.

The aim of the conference was to inquire into and investigate how the changing behavior patterns due to the rapidly changing ecosystem and modern technology create the characteristics of the identity of a language, its creative use of literature, residual arts, and intangible heritage, both as an intellectual inquiry and as a creative expression.

The conference brought together nearly 90 leading academic researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results through interdisciplinary research papers that investigate cultural identity and Sinhala literary studies in a dynamic way.

Senior Professor Raj Somadeva delivered the keynote speech at the event. The event was graced by Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya as the Chief Guest, Dr. Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Sudath R. D. Kalingamudali, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor H. A. A. Swarna Ihalagama, Head of the Department of Sinhala, Chair and Senior Professor M. A. Nimal Karunaratne, Academic, and Non-Academic Staff of the Department and Students.

“Remembering Professor Manique 2023”, an event in commemoration of the former Chair Professor of English, Professor Manique Gunasekera was held on the 11th of October 2023 at the University of Kelaniya. The event was organized by the English Students’ Association (ESA) of the Department of English.

Professor Manique’s family and friends, together with the academic staff and students at the university graced this occasion to mark the launch of the ‘Remembering Professor Manique Gunasekera Project’ and share their memories of the late professor.

The event commenced with the distinguished guests lighting candles in memory of Professor Manique, followed by Dr. Shashikala Assella, the Head of the Department of English welcoming the gathering. Professor Prabha Manuratne was then invited to share her memories of Professor Manique. She spoke on the profound contributions of Professor Manique towards Sri Lankan English and her experiences with Professor Manique during her undergraduate years. Following her speech, Professor Eisha Hewabowela, Ms. Lilanka Boteju, Professor Arjuna Parakrama, and General Lalin Fernando reminisced about their cherished memories with Professor Manique.

During the event, the English Students’ Association launched the “Remembering Professor Manique Gunasekara Project” with the aim of disseminating knowledge, raising awareness, and improving the English language literacy of the students of Wedamulla Maha Vidyalaya. This project will serve as a tribute to Professor Manique’s enduring legacy, with the sincere aspiration to perpetuate the impact she has left behind. Furthermore, the project stands as a catalyst for enhancing the civic engagement of students within the Department of English. 

The inaugural initiative of the project will host a child protection awareness program at Wedamulla Maha Vidyalaya in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Colombo City. The Immediate Past President of Rotary Club of Colombo City Mohamed Husni spoke on the partnership and expressed the organization’s willingness to support the civic engagement of students. Furthermore, the principal of Wedamulla Maha Vidyala Ms. Nilusha Dantasinghe expressed her support and appreciation of the project.

Concluding the event with gratitude, the President of the English Students’ Association Thadini Liyanage extended sincere thanks to everyone in attendance for honouring the memory of Professor Manique Gunasekera.