ප්‍රත්‍යවලෝකන

මානවශාස්ත්‍ර හා සමාජීයවිද්‍යා පීඨයේ චතුර්මාන ඉතිහාස
කතාව:1959-2022

Launch of the First-Ever Faculty and University History Book

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (the
pioneering faculty of the university) launched its first-ever official history book— a 241-page,
coffee table-style publication that marks a historic milestone. The launch was held in the presence
of the Vice Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Sunil Ariyaratne, along with all current Deans, the
University Librarian, and Faculty members, at the newly established Faculty Board Room at
Wimaladhamma Building on 16th June 2025.
This is not only the first comprehensive history book of the faculty, but also the first publication
of its kind by any faculty in the University’s history, making it a landmark achievement for the
entire institution. The title – ප්‍රත්‍යවලෝකන ( In Retrospect ) – reflects the spirit of looking back

with insight and reflection. The subtitle – චතුර්මාන ඉතිහස කතාව:1959-2022 – of the book
complements this by pointing to the four distinct chapters, each crafted through a different lens or
mode of documentation. The book traces the journey of the University beginning in 1959, when
this Faculty was established as one of its pioneering faculties, and continues up to 2022, marking
the significant milestone of the faculty receiving its second dedicated building.

The book begins with an introduction by the Chief Editor and is structured into four chapters,
each offering a unique lens to view the Faculty’s and University’s development:

1 ලේඛනාවලෝකන – ලිඛිත ඉතිහාස කතාව
The first chapter presents a comprehensive written history based on archival sources and official
university records, and Prof. Vimal G. Balagalle’s personal library, offering a broad institutional
overview. The chapter is structured into four sub-stages, each reflecting significant phases in the
faculty’s development, shaped by the number of faculties it comprised, as well as key curricular
and administrative transformations:

1. 1959–1966: This initial phase began with the establishment of the faculty, which originally
   comprised four distinct faculties.
2. 1967–1972: During this period, the faculty was reorganized into three faculties, coinciding
   with the University’s transition from a Pirivena institution to a fully-fledged national
   university, marked notably by the admission of female students for the first time.
3. 1972–2000s: In this stage, the faculty operated with only one faculty unit, a period that
   reflected broader political and educational changes occurring in the country.
4. 2000 – 2022: In the most recent stage, the faculty was formally renamed as the Faculty of
   Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS), signifying its evolved academic identity and
   structure.

2 අධ්‍යයනාංශාවලෝකන – සංවිහිත ඉතිහාස කතාව
The second chapter builds on this foundation but shifts the focus to a departmental level. It uses
internal documents, reports, and records from individual departments, providing a more detailed
and localized lens on the faculty’s evolution.

3 රූපාවලෝකන – සචිත්‍රක ඉතිහාස කතාව
The third chapter, a visual chapter (Pictorial History) that captures the institution’s story through
photographs sourced from archives and personal collections. The photographs included in the book
have been carefully categorized and presented thematically, offering a visual journey through key
moments in the University’s history. These categories include:

• Opening ceremonies of the University, capturing its foundational milestones
• Convocations, showcasing the pride and tradition of academic achievement
• University buildings and infrastructure, documenting architectural growth over the
  decades
• Student and academic staff protests, reflecting moments of political engagement and
  institutional change
• Research and academic activities, highlighting the scholarly contributions of the
  University community

4 ආඛ්‍යානාවලෝකන – වාචික ඉතිහාස කතාව
The fourth chapter (Oral History) is a chapter built on narrative research, featuring unstructured
interviews with 26 individuals:

o 07 current or former Deans (representing administrative leadership)
o 10 academic staff members (past and present)
o 2 non-academic staff
o 7 alumni

Although the narratives varied in form and tone, many of them revealed previously
undocumented historical details, offering valuable insights and perspectives that are absent from
official records.
The book is the result of extensive research, including a review of previously published
university history books, both locally and internationally, and draws on archival materials,
existing publications, and newspaper clippings. In the process, many previously unrecorded
events and narratives have been uncovered and documented.This is the first time in the
University’s history that such a comprehensive record has been published at this level, fully
sponsored and published by the university itself. An English translation of the book is currently
underway.

Executive Guidance:
Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Editor in Chief:
Prof. Chitra Jayathilake, Dept. of English and Linguistics

Chapter Compilers:
Chapter 1: Dr. Hansamala Ritigahapola; Dept. of Sinhala and Mass Communication),
Chapter 2: Ms. Imanga Nadeeshani and Mr. Anura Jayasinghe; Dept. of Political Science
and Dept. of Economics respectively
Chapter 3: Dr Sujeeva Sebastian Pereira, Dept. of English and Linguistics
Chapter 4 Prof. Chitra Jayathilake, Dept. of English and Linguistics

Content Editors:
Mr. Neranja Bandara, Dept. of Sinhala and Mass Communication
Mr. Anurudda Pradeep Karnasuriya , Dept. of Political Science

Language Editors:
Ms. Bhagya Mabulage, Dept. of Sinhala and Mass Communication
Mr. Gayantha Karunathilake, Dept. of Sinhala and Mass Communication