Prof. Sampath Amaratunge was re-elected as the VC of USJP

Prof. Sampath Amaratunge was re-elected as the VC of USJP

It is with pride and pleasure that we announce Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Professor in Business Economics has been reappointed as the Vice Chancellor of University of Sri Jayewardenepura for a period of three years from 16th November 2017 onwards. This appointment is a continuation of his previous tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the University from 17th November 2014. During his previous tenure, two new faculties, Faculty of Technology and Faculty of Engineering were established. Also, new faculty buildings for the Faculty of Medical Sciences and new faculty complex for the Faculty of Applied Sciences were erected. University infrastructure facilities, student hostel facilities and sports facilities were also upgraded with his high level of commitment during his previous period.

He is a proud product of renowned Ananda College, Colombo 10. He received the first degree, B.A. Economics (Special) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and completed M.A.Econ from the University of Colombo. He pursued his specialization in Japan with a M.Sc. in Economics of Rural Development and a Ph.D. from Kogoshima National University in Japan.

Prof. Amaratunge counts over 25 years of service as an academic at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He has published more than 50 articles in international and national proceedings and indexed journals. His contribution to the academia has been rewarded many a times with local and international research excellence awards. Among the awards the most noticeable is the Kyushu Society of Rural Economics in Japan Research Excellence Award in 2002 in recognition of his research work.

Prior to the appointment as the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Amaratunge occupied leadership roles consecutively for nine years as the Head of the Department of Business Economics and as the elected Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce (FMSC). He was one of the founding members of the Department of Business Economics.

He has rendered his service not only at the university level, but also at different outside institutions such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) of Sri Lanka as the Chairman from 2009 to 2012, at Sri Lanka University Sports Association (SLUSA) as the President from 2009 to 2010, and many other noticeable appointments.

We wish Professor Sampath Amaratunge the very best of luck!