Professor Shanti Nandana Wijesinghe is a Sociologist, researcher as well as social activist who has been serving as a Professor in Sociology at the Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and he started his professional carrier as a lecturer in Sociology in 1985. At present, he is reading for his Ph.D. at the Department of Peace and Development Research, School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He received a MA in Health Social Sciences in 1996 from the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Mahidol University, Thailand. Prof Wijesinghe obtained his BA in Sociology with Second Class Upper Division Honours in 1985 from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He has served as the Director of Social Development Affairs to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015. He initiated as a pioneer of 18 Social Reconciliation Centers (SRCs) of Sri Lankan state universities in 2021 under the theme of Social Reconciliation among University Communities and the University Grant Commission (UGC) has launched SRCs as a joint initiative with the President's Office for increasing capacity building, research output, and other reconciliation activities of universities for an initial period of ten years (2022 to 2032). Prof Wijesinghe was appointed by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka for the Presidential Task Force – One Country One Law in 2021. As one of the pioneers of Ceylon School of Economics & Technology (CSET) was established in 2021, is an institution of advanced education and research, which has secured itself an extensive network of contacts with top-notch universities within and outside Sri Lanka (https://cset.edu.lk/about-2/). He teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses on sociological theories, peace theories, human rights, population and society/ development, medical sociology/anthropology and sociology of reproductive health, sociological perspectives, classical sociological theory, advanced sociological theories, and sociology of religion. He has conducted research and training in the fields of social reconciliation, peace, conflict, and health. He has served for nearly twenty years as the editor of “Samaja Vimasuma” (Social Analysis), the annual publication of the Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya. He is currently serving as the chief editor of an international journal called “Social Affairs” (https://www.socialaffairsjournal.com/en/), “Samaja Sameeksha” and Executive Director of World University Friends (WUF) http://www.worlduniversityfriends.org/. Some of his outstanding research and publications are; Youth Volunteerism and Social Reconciliation for Social Development, Published by WUF and Innovators Pvt (Ltd), P VI+142, 2015, ISBN 978-955-4889-05-7, The Attitudes, Conflict Styles and Personality of Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks in Peace, Published by World University Friends. P VIII-166, ISBN 978-955-3901-11-8, Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Peace in Sri Lanka, Reconciliation in Post-conflict Sri Lanka, Colombo: Department of Government Printing, P iv + 55, 2013, ISBN 978-955-4889-03-3, Empowerment, Leadership, and Social Development. Colombo: Enhancing Knowledge and Virtues: Student Empowerment National Program, Published by WUF and Innovators Pvt (Ltd), P 120, 2012, ISBN 978-955-4889-01-9.
