Cadre Chair and Senior Professor Patrick Raynayake officially assumed duties as the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, on 10 June 2026 at the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Humanities.

With over decades of experience as an Academic in Sri Lanka, Senior Professor Patrick Ratnayake serves as the Cadre Chair of the Department of Drama, Cinema and Television, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Arts in 1986 at the University of Kelaniya, while he completed his MA in Cinema in 1995 at Nichidai, Tokyo, Japan. He obtained his PhD in Cinema in 1998 at Nichidai, Tokyo, Japan.

Senior Professor Patrick Ratnayake is a nationally and internationally renowned scholar specialised in Fine Arts education and Film and Television Studies. He is one of the most senior scholars in Sri Lankan university setting on his academic discipline. His scholarship is situated at the intersection of cinema, image arts, drama and theatre, Japanese cultural studies, Sri Lankan folk performance traditions, television studies, photography and broader cultural studies. He also has authored a number of books, including Sinamā Hā Rūpavāhini Adhyayanaya, Nāṭya Kalā Gavēśana, and Soňduru Āgnāvak.

Throughout his academic career, Senior Professor Ratnayake has held numerous administrative positions at the University of Kelaniya, including Dean of the Faculty of Humanities (2017–2020), Head of the Department of Drama, Cinema and Television (2026), Head of the Department of Fine Arts (2000–2003), Head of the Drama, Theatre and Image Arts Unit (2005–2009), and Chairman of the Arts Council (2005–2009). Beyond the University, he has also served in several key administrative capacities at the national level.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of Senior Professor P. A. Paranagama, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies; Professor Dhammika Weerasinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Technology; Professor Jeewantha Premaratne, Dean of the Faculty of Science; Dr S. C. Thusara, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies; Dr Sudath Senarath, former Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Professor Narada Fernando, Chairman of the People’s Bank; Mr K. K. K. Dharmathilaka, Registrar;  Ms W. L. S. Wijesekara, Acting Bursar; and the Heads of Departments, along with academic, administrative, academic-support and non-academic staff members of the University of Kelaniya.