We are happy to announce that Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda will grace the ICHSS 2018 at Peradeniya by delivering the keynote address.

Jayadeva Uyangoda, a political scientist and constitutional expert, was a Senior Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and presently is an Emeritus Professor there. As a teacher, he has guided generations of students across disciplines.

A prolific writer in Sinhala and English, Prof. Uyangoda has authored more than fifteen books, fifteen edited volumes, ninety journals and book chapters, many of which are widely used as key texts in the field of Political and Social Sciences in Sri Lanka. His publications span a wide range of subjects; from democracy, local governance, state reform and social inclusion/ exclusion to violence, human rights, ethnic politics, and conflict resolution.

Prof. Uyangoda has also been a key actor in drafting political proposals which have sought to resolve Sri Lanka’s protracted ethnic conflict. During August 2016-July 2017, he held the Rajni Kothari Chair in Democracy at the Center for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi. Prof. Uyangoda has also been associated with the Social Scientists’ Association (SSA), Colombo, since the early 1980s. Besides being its secretary, Treasurer and member of the Council of Management, he co-founded with Charles Abeysekera and Kumari Jayawardena the journals Pravada, Polity and Pirivadam. He has also directed SSA’s research and education programs.