Educational Qualifications
- PhD, Durham University, School of Applied Social Sciences, Durham University. Researched on the Social Work Intervention in Community Mental Health Teams in the UK, 2012
- A. in Social Work Studies, Department of Applied Social Sciences, University of Durham, 2006-2007
- A. Special Degree in Psychology, 2nd class upper division pass, University of Peradeniya, Sri- Lanka, 1997-2001
Teaching Qualifications
- Durham University Learning and Teaching Award (DULTA) – accredited by the Higher Education Academy 2010.
- North East Local GRAD School: Communication Skills+More – Graduate School Durham University – UK, July 2010
- Teaching Induction for Postgraduates – Preparing to Teach – Small Group Teaching/ Assessments in the Arts and Humanities/The International Teaching Assistant – Graduate School of Durham University, UK, October 2008
- Reviewing Your Teaching – Graduate School Durham University – UK, December2010
- Staff Development Centre of the University of Colombo Sri Lanka, ‘A Short Course on University Teaching’, November 2005 to March 2006
- Teaching and Research in Psychology –Solomon Asch Centre for Study of Ethno political Conflict, University of Pennsylvania USA., 2004
- National Institute of Psychological Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Professional Diploma in Psychology and Counselling, 2000-2001
Teaching at Certificate, Diploma, Higher Diploma, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate Levels in areas related to;
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Research Methodology
Journals
- 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).
- Padeniya, RN, Thushari, G. Nissanka, DH, Shashika, C, Munasinghe, DH, Aberathne, DM, Weerawardena, PL, Kumarasinghe, N & Liyanage L (2020) Maternal Coping Strategies in Response to Child’s Oncological Diseases in Sri Lanka, Acta Oncologica, 59:7, 866-871, DOI: 10.1080/0284186X.2020.1750695
Book Chapters
Publications of seminar and conference proceedings
Full Papers (Peer reviewed)
Best paper Award
- Jayathilake, P. & Liyanage, L. (2019) ‘Buddhist Concept of Mindfulness in Psychotherapeutic Interventions’ International Research Conference 2019, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka.
Other publications
- Fernando, R, Kannangara, S and Liyanage L (2021) Carrer Decision Making Approaches and Modern Perception on Career Guidance, Annual International Research Symposium, ICBT Campus, Sri Lanka
- Wijewickrama, TN and Liyanage, LS (2020) Social Construction of Personality: An Assessment on the Perceptions of Introversion and Extroversion among Undergraduates of Colombo, Sri Lanka. 13th International Research Conference, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka.
- Wickramasinghe, DWUC, Jayasuriya, PY, Medhavini, IADT , Avindhya, WAL, Herath, HMKKA, Konarathne, KMND and Liyanage, LS (2020) An Evaluation on the Rehabilitation Programmes Conducted for Juvenile Delinquents in Remand Homes and Certified Schools in Sri Lanka: A Case Study Based on Southern Province. 13th International Research Conference, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
- Samaranayake, SM, Premarathne, NH, Liyanage, L (2020) The Impact of Living in High-rises for the Cognitive Development of Early Childhood in Sri Lanka, 13th International Research Conference, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
- Waruwangodage, PK & Liyanage, LS (2018) ‘Developing Life Coping Skills Among Amputated Elderly War Veterans/Differently Able War Heroes in the Sri Lanka Army: A Case Study’, International Research Conference 2018, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka.
- Chandrathilaka LC & Liyanage, LS (2017) ‘Awareness About Dietary Intake and Dietary Habits Which Effect on Iron Deficiency Anaemia During Pregnancy in Different Socio-Economic Conditions: A Study on Pregnant Women in Badulla MOH Area’, National Undergraduate Research Symposium, Sri Lanka.
- Edirisuriya, MAVS & Liyanage, LS (2016) ‘Application of Protective Motivation Theory in Cyber Safety Context: Human Factor in Risk Mitigation’, International Research Conference 2016, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka.
Published abstracts of unpublished full paper or presentations
Abstracts/Extended Abstracts (peer reviewed)
- Liyanage, L. (2014) A Comparative Study Between the Mental Health Social Work Practices in the UK and in Sri Lanka, International Conference in Community Empowerment, Coping, Resilience and Hope, – Hyderabad, India.
- Liyanage, L. (2014) Community Based Mental Health Social Work Practice in the UK, International Conference in Social Work Practice in Mental Health – Kerala, India.
- Liyanage, L. (2012) Strengthening Family Members to Welcome Service Users Home, International Conference on Strengths Based Practice in Social Work – Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Liyanage, L. (2010) Social Workers in Mental health Teams, Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development: The Agenda – Hong Kong.
- Liyanage, L. (2010) Changing Health: Social Work Contribution to Community Mental Health Teams, 6th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health – Dublin.
- Series of articles to social media on Stress Management
Reports
- Final Project Report of the ACU Gender Grant 2021
- GIZ (2013) A need assessment survey with the low-enforcement officers of Killinochchi, Mankulam and Jaffna Divisions, Sri Lanka’, Colombo, GIZ
- SERVE (2013) ‘A PRA in the communities of Angulana, Uswatte, Moratuwella, Modera & Thotawatte, Sri Lanka on the services provided by SERVE’, Moratuwa, SERVE
- NISD (2013) ‘A need assessment survey to revise the Diploma in Social work curricula at NISD with current and past students of NISD, social work professionals and social work academics’ NISD, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
- Director, Centre for Gender Equity and Equality, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka since 02.09.2020
- Senior Lecturer Grade I in the Department of Social Sciences of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University-Sri Lanka, since 20.05.2019
- Senior Lecturer Grade II in the Department of Social Sciences of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University- Sri Lanka, 05.2013 – 19.05.2019
- Visiting Lecturer – National Defence College – Sri Lanka since January 2023
- Visiting Lecturer – Master of Social Work programme, National Institute of Social Development-Sri Lanka, since January 2019
- Visiting Lecturer – Army School of Logistics-Sri Lanka since 2017
- Visiting Lecturer – Department of Philosophy and Psychology, University of Kelaniya-Sri Lanka, 2014-2016
- Visiting Lecturer – Junior Naval and Staff College(JNSC)-Sri Lanka, since 2015
- Visiting Lecturer – Sri Lanka Air- Force Academy China Bay-Sri Lanka, since 2015
- Visiting Lecturer – Sri Lanka Foundation from 2004-2006 and from 2012 – 2014
- Visiting Lecturer – Faculty of Graduate Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University-Sri Lanka, since 2014
- Visiting Lecturer – Defence Services Command and Staff College-Sri Lanka, since 2013
- Lecturer Grade I – National Institute of Social Development-Sri Lanka, from 15.02.2012 – 19.05.2013
- Lecturer Grade II – National Institute of Social Development-Sri Lanka, from 15.01.2002 – 14.02.2012
- Resource person – Master of Social Work Programme – Department of Social Work, Durham University-UK, from 2007-2008
- Seminar Leader – Combined Honours Programme, Durham University-UK, 2008-2009
- Seminar Leader – Department of Sociology, Durham University-UK, 2008-2009
CONSULTANCY
- Psychiatric Social Work consultant for the National Institute of Mental Health Sri Lanka 2013-2014 – Programme funded by the Asia Foundation
- Member of the Sri Lanka Policy Framework Committee for Senior Citizens – 2015
- Member of the Sri Lanka Policy Framework Committee for Family Policy – 2015
OTHER APPOINTMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
- Chairperson – Ethics Review Committee (non-medical) of KDU since February 2021
- Head, Department of Social Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka from September 2014-September 2017
- Student counsellor at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, since 2013
- Course coordinator – MSc in Disaster Risk Reduction and Development, Faculty of Graduate Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, since 2016
- Member – Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Graduate Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, since 2018
- Member – Board of Studies, Faculty of Graduate Studies General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, since 2018
- Member – Internal Quality Assurance Cell – Faculty of Management Social Sciences and Humanities, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, since 2014
- Co-Editor of the KDU Newsletter, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, 2019
- Member – Ethics Review Committee, BoS on Management, Social Sciences and Law/ Faculty of Medicine, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, since 2017
- Editorial Board Member, KDU Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Faculty of Graduate Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
- Senate Committee member KDU from 2014-2017 and from 09.2020 up to date
- Procurement Advisory Committee member – General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, – 2016 to 2017
- President – Advisory Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, 2017-2018
- Editorial Board Member, Journal of Social Work, National Institute of Social Development, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka – 2011-2013
- Member of the Subject Benchmark preparation team for Social Work in 2011-2013
- Thesis Examiner/Evaluator/Viva Panel Member/Paper Moderator/Journal Reviewer
International
- Reviewer – British Journal of Social Work
- Reviewer – Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences
- PhD thesis examiner – Periyar Maniammai University, India
- PhD thesis examiner – Bharathidasan University, India
- PhD thesis examiner – Cauvery College for Women, Tamil Nadu, India
- PhD thesis examiner – Bharathiyar University, India
- Field Work Supervisor – Federation University Melbourne, Australia
NATIONAL
- Module Evaluator for BSc in Psychology and BSc in Educational Psychology – Open University of Sri Lanka
- Paper moderator BSc in Psychology and BSc in Educational Psychology – Open University of Sri Lanka
- MSc thesis Examiner – University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
- MSW supervisor, thesis examiner, Field Work Supervisor, National Institute of Social Development, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
GENERAL SIR JOHN KOTELAWALA DEFENCE UNIVERSITY (KDU) SRI LANKA
- Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, KDU-BSc, MSc examiner
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, KDU-BSc Research supervisor & Visiting Lecturer
- Faculty of Graduate Studies – KDU, – MSc and PhD Thesis examiner and evaluator
KDU Affiliated Institutions
- National Defence College, Sri Lanka
- Defence Services Command and Staff College – Sapugaskanda, Sri Lanka – supervisor and viva panel member
- Army Logistics School, Sri Lanka – supervisor and dissertation examiner
- Junior Naval & Staff Course, Sri Lanka – supervisor and dissertation examiner
- Junior Command & Staff Course, Sri Lanka – supervisor and dissertation examiner
GUEST LECTURES
- Army Cantonment Panagoda, Sri Lanka – Officers’ Training
- Officer Career Development Centre Buttala, Sri Lanka – Seminar Sessions
- Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps – Officers’ Training
- Colombo Municipal Council, Sri Lanka – Staff Training
Other Academic Experience
Resource person in the following programmes / workshops.
Staff Development Centre
- Staff Development Programme at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, SINCE 2015 (presentations related to Stress Management, Time Management and Psychological Counselling).
- Student Orientation Programmes of Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Management Social Sciences and Humanities of KDU (presentations related to Adjusting to University Culture, Culture Shock, Psychosocial wellbeing, psychological counselling, mentoring. effective learning, stress management etc.)
- Presentations in the Leadership Trainings (for undergraduates of KDU and other external organizations) conducted by the Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies since 2014
Interfaculty Teaching
- Faculty of Criminal Justice, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, 2023 – Module ‘Social Psychology’
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, 2017-2022 – Module ‘Psychology and Counselling’ in MSc in Management
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, KDU 2017-2022 – Qualitative Research in the Research Methodology module in MBA Logistic Management
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, KDU 2014 – 2015. Module ‘Critical Thinking’ in MSc in Management
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, KDU 2014 – 2015 – Module ‘Research Methodology’ for MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, KDU from 2013-2019 – Module ‘Sociology and Anthropology’ for Nursing, Pharmacy, Radiography, Radiology and Physiotherapy students
- Faculty of Engineering, KDU from 2016-2022 – Module on ‘Psychology for Engineers’ for students from all the specializations
Introduction of new courses/new degree programs
- MSc in Disaster Risk Reduction and Development
From the initial discussions with York University, signing the MoU, development of curriculum and launching the programme, I worked as the coordinator of this programme. Now it is the 4th batch of students in this programme
- Counselling Courses/Workshops
I have organized three workshops on Psychological Counselling to internal and external participants. In 2018, I organized a certificate level training for student counselors from all the faculties of KDU. More than twenty student counselors were trained in this with the support from an external resource person.
As the President – Advisory Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, Kotelawala Defence University – 2017-2019, around 10 workshops/trainings were conducted to do a risk assessment of KDU (Ratmalana, Werahara and Sooriyawewa). Risk Assessment is completed in 2019 and with the support of Disaster Management Centre, now I’m in the process of developing the Disaster Profile for KDU.
Curriculum Planning and Revision – KDU
- Coordinator of the curriculum revision of the BSc in Social Sciences degree programme, KDU-2021
- MSc in Disaster Risk Reduction and Development
- Counselling and Psychology module for MSc in Management, FGS KDU
- Critical Thinking module for MSc in Management, FGS KDU
- Research Methodology module for MBA Logistics Management, FGS KDU
- Basic Psychology module for BSc in Social Sciences, Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, KDU
- Counselling and Basic Psychology module for BSc in Management and Technical Sciences, Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, KDU
- ‘Psychology for Engineers’ module for BSc in Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, KDU
- ‘Industrial and Organizational Psychology’ module for BSc in Social Sciences, Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, KDU
- Sociology and Anthropology module for Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, KDU
- Curriculum Planning and Revision – KDU Affiliated Institutions
- Member of the Curriculum Revision Committee from KDU for Senior Staff College and chaired the development of Management Module.
- Psychology module for Military Academy, Diyathalawa, Sri Lanka
- Research Methodology module for Junior Naval and Staff Course, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
- Extended Essay Guidelines for Junior Naval and Staff Course, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
- Research consultant for ‘Contribution of Samurdhi Community Based Banks for Social and Economic Development of Samurdhi Beneficiaries in Sri Lanka’ sponsored by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Sri Lanka 2018.
- Research Consultant for ‘A PRA in the communities of Angulana, Uswatte, Moratuwella, Modera & Thotawatte, Sri Lanka on Sapala project conducted by SERVE’, Sri Lanka – 2013
- Research Consultant for ‘A need assessment survey with the low-enforcement officers of Killinochchi, Mankulam and Jaffna Divisions, Sri Lanka to develop a certificate course in Psychosocial Intervention and Counselling’ – 2013
- A need assessment survey to revise the Diploma in Social work curricula at NISD, Sri Lanka with current and past students of NISD, social work professionals and social work academics – 2012
- A Qualitative Research on Strength – Based Practice in Mental Health Social Work –National Institute of Mental Health – Colombo, Sri Lanka – 2012
- An Ethnographic Study with Two Community Mental Health Teams in the UK on Social Work Contribution to Community Mental Health Teams – PhD study- 2009-2011
- ‘Culture Shock and Psychosocial Adjustment Among International Students’ A Qualitative Study with International Students of Durham University, UK – 2006-2007 – M.A. dissertation
- ‘Street People in Colombo Municipal Council’ research conducted by the Ministry of Social Welfare in Collaboration with the National Institute of Social Development in Sri Lanka – 2006 – contributed as a research assistant
- Reproductive Health Initiative for the Youth in Asia’ an International Research Conducted Throughout Asia. 2004 – Contributed as an interviewer, as a moderator, as a reporter and as an organizer – 2004.
- ‘Relationship between Stress and Cancer’ a Quantitative study with cancer patients at Maharagama Cancer Hospital – B.A. Dissertation – 2000-2001
RESEARCH CONFERENCE CHAIRING/OTHER CONTRIBUTION
- Session Chair – International Workshop on ‘Strengthening Families: Role of Social Workers’, organized by the Japanese Association of Social Workers and Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers, Colombo, January 2020
- Scientific Committee member in the ‘6th International Conference on Arts and Humanities 2019’ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Conference Session Chair – International Conference on Social Sciences (ICOSS) – Colombo, September 2017
- Conference Session Chair – International Conference in Social Work Practice in Mental Health – Kerala, India, December 2014
- Keynote Speaker – World Social Workday Programme, Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers, March 2014, Colombo.
RESEARCH SUPERVISION
- PhD-Multiple Intelligence Based Career Counseling Model in Sri Lankan Context (Ongoing)
- PhD – Effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Model as an Intervention Tool in Psychological Counselling to manage Adjustment Disorder in Private Sector Employees in Sri Lanka (Ongoing)
- General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka – Faculty of Graduate Studies – MPhil and PhD supervisor
- General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka – Faculty of Graduate Studies – supervision for MSc Management, MBA Logistics Management, MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies, BSc in Management (Have supervised more than 50 completed MScs)
- General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka – Faculty of Management Social Sciences and Humanities – BSc in Social Sciences and BSc in Management and Technical Sciences (have supervised around 100 completed BScs)
- General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka – Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (have supervised 02 groups of students)
- National Institute of Social Development –Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka – Supervisor of Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degree programmes (have supervised around 15 BScs and 05 Masters)
- MSc Supervisor – Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) (01 completed MSc)
- MPhil supervisor – Post Graduate Institute of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (01 ongoing MPhil supervision)
- Supervisor – MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies – Defence Services Command and Staff College – Sapugaskanda, Sri Lanka (more than 30 completed MScs)
- Supervisor – MBA Logistics Management – Army School of Logistics, Sri Lanka (around 05 completed MBAs)
- Supervisor – Junior Naval and Staff College (JNSC), Sri Lanka Post Graduate Diploma (around 10 completed PGDs)
- Supervisor – Junior Command & Staff Course – Sri Lanka Airforce, China Bay (around 10 completed PGDs)
