As Dean of the Faculty, I am glad that our academics with their globally competitive credentials have understood the need to serve the national development requirements of the people with inspiration from a multi-disciplinary body of knowledge. This is while keeping in mind that what we should aspire to produce are balanced and holistic personalities in people, by way of a true blend of material and physical development needs with social, cultural and spiritual needs.

I should say that the Faculty of HSS is building a formidable reputation at present as a Centre of Excellence in English Language Education, having paved the way for the first ever Postgraduate Institute of English (PGIE) in Sri Lanka; in multidisciplinary social sciences with a strong foundation for learners to pursue with advanced research in development policy studies; in Management with formidable linkages with international bodies such as the Commonwealth of Learning in Canada and the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) of Sri Lanka; and as the pioneer in Open Distance based Legal Studies at undergraduate level, and in the field of Criminal Justice at postgraduate levels. We are also happy that the academics working for these disciplines have received their postgraduate training through some of the best known global universities in Asia, Europe and the United States of America. They are committed in making their presence felt by instilling in learners the core knowledge required for an awakened citizenry.

I am proud to say that our academics have also been closely associated with macro level struggles to restore the dignity of the national university academia, by reminding the policy makers in higher education that universities are the ‘Nerve Centres’ that produce the best possible expertise needed for national and international development. Furthermore, we have also  stated in public that the academics should be ‘Catalysts’ in nation building, offering much needed checks and balances favourable for good governance. We remind academics the need to be courageous in upholding the truth as they see and represent social justice as enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights endorsed by the United Nations (UN).

It is my fervent hope that we of the Faculty of HSS will be considered as a truly inspiring community of academics by being more receptive to the needs of the people.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Mahim Mendis
BA(Hons); MA(Lancs)UK; M.Phil(Leicester)UK; Ph.D(NUS)
Dean- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences