DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology, as a distinct field of study under social sciences, has been developing a unique identity within the global education system. Therefore, the demand for higher education is continuously increasing. As a result, the Department of Anthropology has earned a very high recognition for its study programmes. We teach and conduct research in physical and cultural anthropology. Although few universities teach cultural anthropology the university of Sri Jayewardenepura in the one and only Sri Lankan university that offers a special degree in programme consist of cultural as well as physical anthropology.
News and Updates
අංගම්පොර සහතිකපත්ර පාඨමාලාව – 2027
The Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, invites applications for the Angampora Certificate Course – 2027, a programme designed to introduce participants to
A Practical Workshop on Comparative Osteology
The Department of Anthropology of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura organized A Practical Workshop on Comparative Osteology on 16 October 2026. The session took place from 11:00 AM to 12:00
Guest Lecture on “Medicine on the Menu”: How Animals Deal with Disease in Nature
The Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, organised a guest lecture titled “Medicine on the Menu: How Animals Deal with Disease in Nature”
The “අතිනත Athinatha” Community Outreach Programme
The “අතිනත Athinatha” Community Outreach Programme, organized by the Department of Anthropology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, was conducted on 9th and 10th October 2026 in the vicinity of Surigahapathana School
පර්යේෂණ කුසලතා සංවර්ධන වැඩමුළු මාලාව – 02: How to Write an Effective Literature Review
'From Sources to Synthesis: How to Write an Effective Literature Review' (මූලාශ්රයන්ගේ සිට සංස්ලේෂණය දක්වා: ඵලදායී සාහිත්ය විමර්ශනයක් ලියන්නේ කෙසේ ද?) යන තේමාව යටතේ සංවිධානය කරනු ලැබූ පර්යේෂණ කුසලතා සංවර්ධන
Message of the Head
Anthropology was introduced to the University of Sri Jayewardenepura as a discipline in 1960 under the auspicious guidance of the eminent scholar Dr. P. E. P. Deraniyagala. Later hard work, dedication and experience of renowned scholars such as Dr. Allex Gunasekara, late Profs. Lakshman Waidyasekara and Prof. Nandasena Rathnapala laid a sound foundation to the development of the discipline. For over 60 years, well qualified department members have been tirelessly training and educating undergraduates to safeguard the different traditional cultural knowledge prevailing in the country and to use that knowledge to develop the country in a sustainable manner. At present this is the only department in the university system that offer both cultural as well as physical anthropology for the anthropology degree programme.
Head of the Department – Prof. K. M. Sepala Samarasekera
Upcoming Events
Academic Programs
To contribute to create a graduate who is fully committed to the development of the country as a coherent, critical and a research oriented citizen who understands human cultural and physical diversity. Anthropology course units are offered to Bachelor of Arts Degree Program…
CERTIFICATE IN TOURISM
Culture is the identity of a country. Although tourism has been taking place for various purposes, most people visit countries to see the diversity of cultures in the world. At present, Sri Lankan culture has been one of the fundamental elements that governs the promotion of tourism in the country. According to the ‘Survey of Departing Tourists from Sri Lanka…
Certificate Course in Angampora
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Lakdiva Hela Martial Arts, now known as Angampora Martial Arts, is one of the oldest martial arts in the history of world martial arts. Angam martial arts have a long history compared to martial arts such as Kung Fu, Wushu, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi in China, Karate in Japan…
Advanced Certificate in Aged Care
To contribute to create a graduate who is fully committed to the development of the country as a coherent, critical and a research oriented citizen who understands human cultural and physical diversity. Anthropology course units are offered to Bachelor of Arts Degree Program…
