Faculty of Humanities Celebrates Excellence at the Excellence in Humanities Awards – 2025

The Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya proudly organised the Excellence in Humanities Awards – 2025 for the third consecutive year, reaffirming its commitment to recognising and celebrating outstanding contributions to the field of Humanities.

The annual event honoured and appreciated the invaluable efforts of academic and administrative staff members who had significantly enriched and advanced the discipline through teaching, research, coordination, service, and outreach.

The Award Ceremony was held on Friday, 20th February 2026, at the K14 Auditorium, Faculty of Humanities. The event was graced by the Chief Guest, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva.  Dr Sudath Senarath, Dean of Faculty of Humanities; Professor C. Pathirawasam, Director of the Quality Assurance Centre; Heads of Departments; and members of the academic and administrative staff of the Faculty of Humanities were also in attendance.

Under the category of Scholarly Excellence in Humanities, awards were presented to Dr Amila Kaluarachchi from the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, and Senior Lecturer Hasara Dasuni Hirimuthugoda from the Department of Hindi Studies.

The Foreign Relations Excellence in Humanities awards were conferred upon the Department of English, the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, and Confucius Institute, University of Kelaniya.

For Coordinating Excellence in Humanities, recognition was given to several academic programmes and coordinators, including, the Certificate Course in Chinese Language offered  by the Confucius Institute, Diploma in Buddhist Studies for Foreign Students offered by the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Diploma in Tamil offered by the Department of Linguistics, BA & BA Honours Programmes for Foreign Students offered by the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, MA in Buddhist Studies offered by the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, and MA in Linguistics offered by the Department of Linguistics.

Individual awards for coordination excellence were presented to Ven. Dr Dewagoda Piyarathana Thero, Coordinator, Staff Development Unit; Dr Vindhya Weerawardhane, Coordinator, Internal Quality Assurance Cell; Senior Lecturer B. A. N. H. Basnayaka, Coordinator, Career Guidance Unit; Dr Anjalee Wickramasinghe, Director, Research Centre; Dr J. A. K. P. Jayasooriya, Director, Centre for Chinese Studies; Senior Lecturer Jayamal de Silva, Coordinator, Computer-Assisted Learning and Web Unit; and Senior Lecturer Divanka Randula Podduwage, Coordinator, Centre for Gender Studies.

The Service Excellence in Humanities awards honoured Senior Professor C. D. Senaratne, Director, Career Guidance Unit; Dr E. Jani Alwis Samarakoon, Academic Warden & Student Counsellor; and Senior Lecturer R. M. C. Ranasinghe, Chief Student Counsellor, Faculty of Humanities.

Under Contribution Excellence in Humanities, awards were presented to Ven. Dr Dewagoda Piyarathana Thero, Department of Sanskrit & Eastern Studies; Senior Lecturer Gevani Prahalathan, Department of English Language Teaching; Senior Lecturer Sulochana Rathnayake, Department of Modern Languages; Senior Lecturer Ven. Muwapetigewela Pagngnaloka Thero,  Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Senior Lecturer B. B. M. Jayasundara, Department of Sinhala; Senior Lecturer Hasara Dasuni Hirimuthugoda, Department of Hindi Studies; Senior Lecturer Jayamal de Silva, Department of Linguistics; and Dr R. M. S. Priyadarshani, Education Unit.

In addition, the Faculty conferred Honorary Awards in recognition of exceptional and lifelong contributions to the advancement of Humanities. The awardees were Retired Professor Ven. Dewalegama Medhananda Thero, Department of Pali & Buddhist Studies; Late Ven. Embogama Wimalagnana Thero, Department of Sanskrit & Eastern Studies; Late Professor D. C. R. A. Goonetilleke, Department of English; Late Senior Professor Kamani Jayasekara, Department of Western Classical Culture & Christian Culture; Professor Emeritus Kulatilaka Kumarasinghe, Department of Sinhala; Professor Emeritus R. M. W. Rajapakshe, Department of Linguistics; Professor Asoka de Zoysa, Department of Modern Languages; Chair & Senior Professor Upul Ranjith Hewawithanagamage, Department of Hindi Studies; Chair & Senior Professor Patrick Ratnayake, Department of Drama, Cinema, and Television; and Senior Professor C. D. Senaratne, Department of English Language Teaching.

The Excellence in Humanities Awards – 2025 stood as a testament to the Faculty’s dedication to academic excellence, quality enhancement, international engagement, and service to the university community. Through this annual celebration, the Faculty of Humanities continued to strengthen its vision of fostering scholarship, innovation, and meaningful contribution to society.