The Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, hosted a guest lecture by Prof. Manual Selvaraj Bexci, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Arts, Psychology, and Humanities at Lincoln University College, Malaysia. The event, held on December 10, 2025, at the Social Sciences Faculty New Auditorium, focused on ‘Identifying Research Readiness in Media and Communication Studies.’

Prof. Bexci, an expert in medical journalism, health communication, ICT-based health models, political economy, and cultural heritage communication, highlighted key competencies required for emerging researchers and discussed the evolving challenges of conducting media and communication research in the digital era.

The session was warmly welcomed and attended by Dr. Manoj Jinadasa, Head of the Department of Mass Communication; Dr. Achala Abeykoon, Research Unit Coordinator; Dr. Mangala Keerthy Pasquel; Senior Lecturer Amali Uthpala Nandasiri; and Lecturers Ayesh Wijesinghe, Dasini Madurasinghe, Sudesh Abeynayaka, Janani Pamodya, Nipuni Bagya, and Hansika Sewwandi, along with other academic staff. Academics from the Departments of International Studies and Archaeology, including Prof. Chaminda Abesinghe and Prof. Chandima Bigahawatta, were also present.

Lecturer Dasini Madurasinghe compered the event, while Dr. Manoj Jinadasa led the panel discussion following the lecture. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students from Mass Communication, Public Relations, and Media Management participated actively.

Importantly, the guest lecture was coordinated by Nithya Sewwandi, an MPhil postgraduate of the Department of Mass Communication, who is also a postgraduate supervisee of Prof. Bexci at Lincoln University Malaysia.