Department of Political Science & Public Policy-University of Colombo

22/03/2026

MPhil/PhD Programme - Department of Political Science and Public Policy.
Online Registration: https://sims.cmb.ac.lk/arts/registration

25/02/2026

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo, successfully conducted the Inauguration Ceremony for the MA, M.Phil, and PhD programmes in Political Science on 20 February 2026.

The ceremony marked the official commencement of the 2026 postgraduate academic year, welcoming a new cohort of scholars to the department. The event was graced by the Chief Guest, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo; Professor Iresha M. Lakshman, Dean of the Faculty of Arts; and other distinguished faculty members, whose presence added great significance to the occasion.

The inauguration highlighted the department’s continued commitment to academic excellence, advanced research, and critical engagement with contemporary political and public policy issues. The gathering provided an opportunity for meaningful academic interaction and encouraged postgraduate students to embark on their scholarly journey with dedication and enthusiasm.

08/01/2026

Annual General Meeting of the Political Science Association (PSA)

The Annual General Meeting of the Political Science Association was successfully held on 7th January. The meeting was organized by the Department of Political Science to elect the new office bearers for the year 2026.

Academic staff members of the Department of Political Science and students participated actively in the meeting. The event provided an important platform for student engagement, leadership development, and strengthening collaboration between students and the academic staff.

We congratulate the newly elected office bearers and wish them a successful year ahead.

06/01/2026

05/01/2026

Celebrating the New Year 2026 with our students ❤️ A moment of joy, unity, and new beginnings.

16/12/2025

Farewell Programme for the Former Dean

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy organized a farewell programme to honour our former Dean, Senior Professor L. Manawadu of the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo. The staff of the Department actively participated in the event to express their gratitude and appreciation for the former Dean’s valuable leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the institution.

The programme was marked by meaningful speeches, shared memories, and warm wishes for the former Dean’s future endeavours.

We wish our former Dean continued success and good health in the next chapter of his life.

30/08/2025

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Colombo, in collaboration with the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), successfully conducted the AI Aptitude Accelerator Workshop on the 15th of August 2025 . Resource person for the session was Mr. Chathura Dilan Perera, Founder and CEO of DILEXUS, who shared invaluable insights on the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence in shaping future careers. The event was coordinated by Mr. Kasun Tharaka, Senior Manager at ICTA, and Ms. Achala Upuldeniya, Coordinator at ICTA, whose support was instrumental in making the workshop a success. The program created an interactive platform for students to engage with cutting-edge ideas on AI and its applications across various fields.

17/08/2025

Annual Field Excursion – 2025 | Department of Political Science and Public Policy

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy successfully conducted its three-day Annual Field Excursion for final-year undergraduates, in collaboration with IFES and USAID. The program was held in Giradurukotte from July 31 to August 2 hy2025.

It included interactive focus group discussions (FGDs) involving professionals and local politicians. These discussions aimed to gather insights and perspectives on various election-related topics, including:
• the impact of the 2024 political shift on rural societies in Sri Lanka,
• youth politics and governance in contemporary Sri Lanka,
• challenges to women's political participation in rural Sri Lankan societies, and
• the impact of government interventions in paddy farming on Sri Lanka’s agrarian communities.

This was followed by a field research exercise designed to assess the level of awareness among the general community regarding election participation and the electoral process. Through questionnaires and field observations, undergraduates gathered valuable data and perspectives on the knowledge, attitudes, and challenges related to elections within the community.

The program concluded with student presentations reflecting on their field experiences, offering thoughtful analysis and sharing recommend for based on their findings.

12/07/2025

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy successfully conducted a guest lecture on “How to Write an Academic Literature Review” on 30th June 2025. This lecture was conducted by Dr. Kinkini Hemachandra from the University of Huddersfield, UK. She presented advantageous details about the structure and purpose of literature reviews, offering practical guidance for students. We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Hemachandra for her valuable contribution and to all who participated.