The Department of Political Science has decided to award a gold medal to the best academic performing student of the Political Science honours degree programme in each academic year at the University's general convocation. This gold medal is awarded in memory of the late Professor Kamal Karunanayak, who was an eminent scholar in Political Science and Economics in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Kamal Karunanayake, as Professor and the head of the department (1999-2002), initiated several programmes to enhance the academic level of the department at the national and international levels. Further, Prof. Karunanayake has extended his service as a researcher,  scholar and a consultant in several national and international institutions.

As an initiative stage, the wife of Prof. Kamal Karunanayake, Mrs. Kusum Karunanayake, offered a financial donation to the University on the 28th of April 2025 at the Vice Chancellor’s office to award the gold medal annually.

Further, a felicitation volume for Prof. Kamal Karunanayake was also launched on the same day. This felicitation volume was edited by the department editorial board, headed by the Senior Lecturer Mrs. Yamuna Niranjanee Mendis.

Senior Prof. Nilanthi R. de Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya; Prof. M. M. Gunathilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Prof. Osantha N. Thalpawila, Head of the Department of Political Science; Mrs. Kusum Karunanayake; and the academic staff of the Department of Political Science joined graced the  occasion.