Department of Sociology

Ms. I.U Gunarathna

Lecturer

MSW (Peradeniya),MSc (Peradeniya), BSW (NISD)

Department of Sociology
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About Me

Ishari Gunarathna has been working as a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya, since 2021. She completed her bachelor’s degree in social work in 2010 and obtained an MSc in development communication and extension from the University of Peradeniya in 2015. Further, she obtained a Master of Social Work degree in 2023 from the University of Peradeniya, and her areas of interest are social work and direct practice methods, social work and disability, and community development.

Education

MSW

University of Peradeniya

2023

MSc

University of Peradeniya

2015

BSW

National Institute of Social Development

2010

Current Positions

Lecturer - University of Peradeniya

2021 March - To Present

Positions Held

Coordinator- Bachelor of Social Work Degree Programme - University of Peradeniya

2021

Batch Coordinator- 2017/2018, 2016/2020- Bachelor of Social Work Degree Programme - National Instiutte of Social Development

2016 - 2021

Field Supervisor- Bachelor of Social Work Degree Programme - National Institute of Social Development

2021

Lecturer - National Institute of Social Development

2013 - 2021

Faculty Supervisor- Bachelor of Social Work and Diploma and Higher Diploma in Social Work - National Institute of Social Development

2013 - 2021

Educational Assistant - The Open University of Sri Lanka

2011 - 2013

Research Assistant - United Nations Office for Project Services

2010 - 2011

Memberships

Member - International Association of Schools of Social Work

2019

Executive Member - Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers

2019

Member - Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers

2013

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLES

A Survey Analysis on a More effective Model of Social Work for Sri Lanka with Reference to Selected WPSW and BSW Institutions Operated in Sri Lanka, The Asia Research Institute for International Social Work, Shukutoku University, Chiba, Japan, October 2020

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354067522_A_Survey_Analysis_on_a_More_Effective_Model_of_Social_Work_for_Sri_Lanka_with_Reference_to_Selected_WPSW_and_BSW_Institutions_Operated_in_Sri_Lanka

Sign Language Interpreters: Challenges faced at Field Settings, Sri Lanka Journal of Social Development, National Institute of Social Development, 2020

Youth Community and Sustainable Development, Sri Lanka Journal of Social Development, National Institute of Social Development, 2020

Dependency of Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka , Sri Lanka Journal of Social Development, National Institute of Social Development, 2018

Effectiveness of Concurrent Field Practice in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Journal of Social Work, National Institute of Social Development, 2018

A Situational Analysis on Gunasinghepura Housing Scheme- National Institute of Social Development, Journal of Action Research, 2017

Application of Ecological Assessment- National Institute of Social Development, Social Work Journal, 2017

https://nisd.ac.lk/images/Downloads/publications/SLJSW-2017.pdf

Conferences

Access to and through education Conference, Sri Lanka, 2021

 A Study on Coping Mechanisms of Students with Visual Impairments to Online Education in Public Universities in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

4th European Conference on Domestic Violence, Slovenia, 2021

 Domestic Violence Occurrence among Highly Educated Married Women: Case Study Analysis

Slovenia

European Conference on Social Work Education- “Innovation and Resilience”, Estonia, 2021

 Rapport Building as an Entry to the Communities

Estonia

2nd International Online Conference, Pedagogical efficacy in Global Context, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka,2021

 A Study on Feasibility Usage of Learning Management Systems among Social Work Students in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

APASWE Conference, 2019, Bengaluru

 Bottom- Up Approach in Post War Reconciliation in Sri Lanka

India

World Disability and Rehabilitation Conference, Colombo, 2017

 Sign Language Interpreters: Challenges faced in Field Settings

Sri Lanka

Ruhunu University International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2017

 Newspapers and Promotion of Ethnic Harmony

Sri Lanka

National Conference on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development, NISD 2017

 A Study on Effective Use of Community Work Approaches

Sri Lanka

National Conference on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development, NISD 2017

 A Study on Effectiveness of Medium in BSW Educational Performances

Sri Lanka

National Symposium on Labor and Employment, 2016, Ministry of labor and Trade Union Relations

 A Situational Analysis on Employed Tourist Guides in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Specialization

Social Work Direct Practice Methods, Community Organizing and Disability

Teaching

SWK2001 - Social Research for Social Work

Department of Sociology

2021 - To Present

ESS 3002 - Research Methods

Department of Sociology

2021 - To Present

SWK 2002 - Modern Social Work Theory

Department of Sociology

2022 - To Present

SWK 2003 - Social Work Research and Service Learning

Department of Sociology

2022 - To Present

SWK 2005 - Human Service Organizations

Department of Sociology

2022 - To Present

BSW 215 - Intervention Skills Development

National Institute of Social Development

2016 to 2021

Research Interests

Learning Disabilities, Inclusive Education, Community Organizing Methods, and Indigenous Social Work

Other Academic Contributions

Resource Person-Training Division- National Institute of Social Development The University of Colombo- Introduction to Social Work and Volunteerism Family Planning Association Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force

Coordination World Social Work Day-2019 Webinar on Role of Sri Lankan Social Workers- Covid 19 Pandemic 2020

World Vision Organization, Sri Lanka -2014 Learning for Transformation (LfT) is a change management project, focusing on building the capacity of front line staff in WV Lanka. LfT consists of 5 modules rolled out in 5 semesters. • Review micro project assignments on Community Development • Coaching staff for improvements • Conduct project assessments – Viva • Evaluating the micro-projects and staff