Three academics from the University of Kelaniya have been awarded the prestigious Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors (CVCD) Excellence Awards for Most Outstanding Senior Researchers in the fields of Management Studies and Social Sciences and Legal Studies, as well as for Most Outstanding Young Researcher in Medical and Dental Sciences. The awarding ceremony was successfully held on August 2, 2025, at the College House, University of Colombo.

This year, Professor Chamaru De Alwis, of the Department of Human Resource Management, was recognized as the Most Outstanding Senior Researcher in Management Studies, encompassing Business, Management, Commerce, and Decision Sciences. Dr. C. C. Jayasundara, the Librarian of the University, received the award for the Most Outstanding Senior Researcher in Social Sciences and Legal Studies, covering fields such as Archaeology, Economics, Education, Geography, Library and Information Science, Law, and related disciplines. Dr. A. K. A. B. Baminiwatta, of the Department of Psychiatry,  was honoured as the Most Outstanding Young Researcher in Medical and Dental Sciences.

The CVCD, established under the Universities Act to advise the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka, plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s higher education and research landscape. Its Excellence Award is the highest national recognition a researcher can achieve within the Sri Lankan university system. Bestowed biennially and only once in a lifetime, the award represents a rare and distinguished milestone in any academic career.

Since its inception in 2006, the CVCD Excellence Awards have celebrated exceptional scholarly contributions across all disciplines, symbolizing the country’s enduring commitment to academic distinction and intellectual advancement.