It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya, as the oldest and most distinguished center for geographic education in Sri Lanka. With origins dating back to 1942 as the University of Ceylon and its establishment at Peradeniya in 1952, our department has nurtured generations of geographers who have contributed meaningfully to academia, public service, environmental stewardship, and national development. Rooted in the scenic highlands of Kandy and shaped by decades of scholarly tradition, the Department of Geography at Peradeniya has long served as a beacon of intellectual inquiry into the dynamic relationships between people, place, and environment.

We are proud of the rich legacy built by our distinguished scholars who have contributed to the academic and intellectual life of this department. Their tireless efforts in teaching, research, and national development contributions continue to inspire everything we do even today. Our department offers a broad and rigorous programme of study encompassing Physical Geography, Human Geography, Applied Geography, and Geospatial Technologies including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing. These programmes are designed not only to equip our graduates with theoretical knowledge but with practical, applied skills that are directly relevant to the challenges facing Sri Lanka and the wider world.

By working together with curiosity, integrity, and dedication, we strive to expand the frontiers of geographical knowledge through lecturing, field studies, laboratory experiments, and group works to produce thoughtful scholars, responsible professionals, and engaged citizens. From the verdant valleys of the Mahaweli Basin in the middle of our island, our graduates are carrying geographical knowledge to every corner of this island and beyond. I look forward to working alongside each of you as we write the next proud chapter of the Department of Geography at the University of Peradeniya.

Prof. Muditha Prasannajith Perera,
Head of the Department,
Department of Geography,
University of Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka.