As an emerging department with an interdisciplinary approach towards the field of Social Science research in Sri Lanka, our academic staff carry out both individual and group research in a number of disciplines. The department is dedicated to conduct research under five broad research themes with substantial focus on individual specializations; Economics & Management, Geography, Social Studies, Psychology and Media & Communication Studies. Details related to the research interests of the academic staff members are given below.
Staff Member | Broad Area of Research | Sub Disciplines | Recent research |
| Prof. P. Hewage | Population Studies | Sexual and Reproductive Health Research, Family size and sex preference, Perception of induced abortion, Migration, Green Space in cities | Jayasinghe, D.B.C., G.P.T.S.Hemakumara, P. Hewage, People’s Use of Public and Private Green Spaces in a Residential Zone of Galle City, Sri Lanka,(2020) , 17th Academic sessions and the 16th Vice Chancellor’s Awards, University of Ruhuna. https://bhumi.sljol.info/articles/abstract/10.4038/bhumi.v8i1.77/ |
| Dr. LS Liyanage | Social Work | Mental Health, Strengths-Based Practice, Ethnographic Research | Bailey, D. & Liyanage, L. (2012) The Role of the Mental Health Social Worker: Political Pawns in the Reconfiguration of Adult Health and Social Care. British Journal of Social Work 2012, 1-19 (Advance Access Published 18th June 2012).http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/06/18/bjsw.bcs069.short |
| Dr. Tamara Jayasundera | Economic Development | Gender Economics, Poverty Analysis, Labor economics, Education Economics, and Health Economics | Carnevale, A., T. Jayasundera, A. Gulish, and M. Van Der Werf. 2016. The Divided Recovery. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (June 2016). https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/americas-divided-recovery/ |
| Dr. WMAGHA Premarathne | Economic Development | Institutions and Rural Development, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development, Tourism Sector Development | Premarathne, W.M.A.G.H.A., (2011). The Impact of Informal Institutions on Agricultural Production and Marketing: The Experience of Sri Lanka. 24th Annual Conference, The Japanese Association for South Asian Studies, 83-84. |
Mr. HMN Herath (On study leave) | Sociology of Religion | Religion and Politics, Buddhism and Politics in Sri Lanka | Herath, N. (2021). Reforms via Katikāvat: Dissension among Buddhist Monks in Sri Lanka over the Code of Conduct Bill. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 44(1), 52-70. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00856401.2021.1864705 |
| Dr. Darshana Ashoka Kumara | Critical Media Studies | Media Ethnography, Media Phenomenology, Communicative Inter-subjectivity, Public sphere, Development Communication, Cultural Studies. | Kumara, D.A. (2018). Contingent Axioms of Language: A Comparison between Nāgārjuna and Derrida. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences ,1 (1), 1-13. http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/19691 Kumara, D.A. (2021). Dānaya, Śuddha Tyāgaya Saha Visaṁyōjanaya (Almsgiving, Pure Gift and Deconstruction). Prathimana: Journal of The Department of Sociology of University of Ruhuna, 14(1), 1-11. Kumara, D.A. (2021). Śrī Laṁkā Kāntā Dēśapālanayē Pravaṇatā Piḷiban̆da Visaṁyōjanātmaka Kiyævīmak. (A Deconstructive Reading of Trends in Sri Lankan Women’s Politics). Parliamenthu Sara Sanhitha Academic Journal of Sri Lanka Parliament. 2(2), 317-327 |
| Ms. Manuri Pabasari Manike Waleboda | Mass communication | Waleboda, M.P.M., Rodrigo, S.S., Dedduwage, C. (2023). A Literature Survey on Facebook Intrusion: Predictors and Effects . 16th International Research Conference (IRC-2023), General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. P36. | |
| Ms. NAK Weerasinghe | Business Management | Strategic Management, Leadership, Organizational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Development Studies | Weerasinghe, N.A.K., Bandara, U.G.H.C.Y., Wanaguru, D.S.J., Sandaruwan, M.G.A., Bandara, K.M.M.M., Abesinghe, S.P.T.C. (2023). Examining Patient Contentment with the Quality of Nursing Care in the Public Healthcare Sector. 16th International Research Conference (IRC-2023), General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. Weerasinghe, N. A. K. (2023). Connecting Small Scale Entrepreneurs with Large Businesses; Different Lens of Sustainable Supply Chain Practices. Logistics Times – 2023, Department of Management and Finance, Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. |