Vice Chancellor's Message

The mandate of any university worthy of that name must include both the dissemination of knowledge (i.e., teaching) as well as the generation of new knowledge (i.e., research). As a leading national university in Sri Lanka, the University of Kelaniya seeks to conduct high quality research in all academic disciplines offered by the University, and to support all members of the University community in this endeavour. The Research Council was established in 2014 to promote a culture of high quality research within the University. Since then, the Research Council has identified several strategies to fulfil this mandate and facilitated their implementation. The outcome has been a remarkable improvement in our University’s research output, as evidenced by a steady increase in the number of papers published by our academics in peer-reviewed journals that are indexed in internationally reputed databases. As our University continues to grow, and we need to ensure that our international reputation also improves. In order to do so, we must ensure that our research output also continues to grow, both in terms of the number of research publications as well as their quality. The Research Council has a major role to play in enabling and encouraging this journey towards excellence in research.
Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva Vice-Chancellor University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka

Chairman's Message

The Research Council of the University of Kelaniya was established in 2014 to promote excellence in research and make significant national and international contributions to the well-being of humanity and the sustainability of economic growth. The Research Council has played a substantial role in fostering the research culture at the university over the years through various grant and award schemes. With the enrolment of the University of Kelaniya in the Times Higher Education rankings in 2023, the research output of the University has become more important than ever before. To fit the changing needs, the Research Council has shifted the focus of its activities from increasing the quantity to improving the quality of research of the University by promoting academics to publish in high-impact journals. Also, the Research Council encourages the development of national and international collaborations and innovations. While extending sincere gratitude to all researchers of the University for their continued high-quality work, I earnestly request the support of all academics for the efforts of the Research Council to reach new heights.

Professor Sachith MettanandaMBBS(Col) MDPaed(Col) DPhil(Oxon) FRCPCH(UK) FRCP(Lond) FRCP(Edin)Professor of PaediatricsChairmanResearch Council

Information about the Establishment


The University of Kelaniya's commitment to research excellence is evident in its ranking among the top 1500+ research universities globally in 2024. This prestigious recognition reflects the university's dedication to fostering a vibrant research culture across a wide range of disciplines, from Commerce and Management to Humanities and Social Sciences. The establishment of the Research Council and various Research Centres within each faculty underscores the university's strategic approach to nurturing innovation and scholarly inquiry. These efforts not only enhance the academic environment but also contribute significantly to the generation of new knowledge, positioning the University of Kelaniya as a beacon of academic excellence in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region.

Aim

The Research Council was established in May 2014 with the aim of promoting innovation and excellence in research in the University of Kelaniya. The activities of the Research Council are aimed at encouraging the staff at various stages of their career and disseminating research findings both locally and globally.


Mission

The Mission of the Research Council of the University of Kelaniya is to promote excellence in research to make a significant contribution towards knowledge enhancement and national development for the wellbeing of the mankind through fostering knowledge-based society with better understanding of the environment and conservation of nature for sustainability of economic growth.


Main Services

Award Schemes

Grant Schemes