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Professor Emeritus
Ariyarathna Athugala

සම්මානිත මහාචාර්‍ය ආරියරත්න ඇතුගල

BA, MA, PhD (Kelaniya) · Senior Professor, Department of Mass Communication · Scholar, media leader, creative artist, and national servant — a life in full.

Biography

A Scholar Who Shaped Sri Lankan Media

Prof. Ariyarathna Athugala is a retired Senior Professor in the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. One of the country's most respected media scholars, he has been teaching since 1991 across advanced placement Mass Communication (Honours/General), MA, MSSc, PhD, and Communication Diploma programmes.

Beyond the lecture hall, he is a prominent figure in Sri Lanka's arts community — a celebrated teledrama director, opera playwright, and filmmaker whose work has left a lasting mark on Sinhala cultural expression. His unique position at the confluence of rigorous scholarship and vibrant creative practice makes him one of the most distinctive voices in Sri Lankan intellectual life.

At the apex of national media governance, he served as Chairman of Sri Lanka Rupavahini (TV) Corporation (2006–2009) and as Director-General of the Department of Government Information (2010–2014), bringing an academic's perspective to the stewardship of the nation's media landscape.

Academic Work

Teaching, Visiting Lectureships & Training

Having built his primary career at the University of Kelaniya, Prof. Athugala also served as a Visiting Lecturer at institutions across Sri Lanka — sharing his expertise broadly across the academic landscape.

1991 – Present
Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya
Senior Professor and Head of Department. Teaching Honours, General, MA, MSSc, PhD, and Diploma courses.
2006 – Present
Journalism Unit, University of Colombo
Visiting Lecturer in Journalism and Mass Communication.
2016 – Present
Sri Jayawardanapura University
Visiting Lecturer.
2016 – Present
Political Academy (Kaluthara and Negombo)
Academic resource person and lecturer.
1993 – Ongoing
The Open University of Sri Lanka
Long-standing visiting lecturer.
1998 – 2015
Sri Lanka Foundation Institute
Visiting Lecturer over an extended engagement.
1999 – 2003
Sripali Campus, Horana, University of Colombo
Visiting Lecturer.
1994 – 1995
National Institute of Business Management
Visiting Lecturer.

Special Training Received

1987
Japanese Government Scholarship
Certificate Course in Television Production · SONY Corporation, Japan
1999
Video Production for Education
Asian Mass Communication Research & Information Centre, Singapore
1983
TV Film Makers Course
OCIC, Sri Lanka
2016
Mindful Journalism Curriculum
UNESCO / Chulalongkorn University Workshop, Bangkok

Creative Work

Teledramas, Theatre, Film & Documentary

Teledramas

1998
Siththara Gurunnanse
13 Episodes
1999
Ramya Nagaraya
12 Episodes · Based on Ibsen's "Enemy of the People"
1998
Thun Biya
12 Episodes
1999
Su Sara Mayam
15 Episodes
2003
Samanala Kandawura
31 Episodes · Youth drama series

Theatre

2012
Mahasamayama
Stage Production
2011
Nelum Pokuna
Theatre · 2nd Edition 2012 · Also published in English

Films & Short Films

2011
Matha
Script Writer
1984
Sina Kandulak & Natath Ayek
Short Films · Certificate from OCIC

TV Documentaries (Selected)

1984–1986
Early Documentary Series
A Palace · Story of the Village · Settlements · Youth Camps · Virgin Forests
2003
World of Work & RideeYagaya
Television documentaries
2010–2014
Government Film Unit
Over 60 documentaries as Director-General
1982
Photographic Exhibition
"Black & White" · University of Kelaniya

Publications

Books, Scripts & Periodicals

1988 / 2004
Sameepa Rupa (Close Up)Republished in 2004.
1997
Rupavahiniya saha SannivedanayaTelevision and Communication.
1997 / 2008
SannivedakayaRepublished in 2008.
1998 / 2008
Sanjananaya saha SannivedanayaPerception and Communication · M.D. Gunasena.
2000–2011
Sannivedana Siddantha (Theories of Mass Communication)Godage Publishers · 4 Editions (2000, 2004, 2005, 2011).
2004
Rupavahine Rajyaa ha Mathawadi MaddyaTelevision, state and ideological media.
1999
Siththara GurunnanseSinhala Teledrama Script · Godage Publishers.
1999
Thun BiyaSinhala Tele Script · Rathna Publications.
1999
Biography of Joe AbeywickremaLife and acting of Sri Lanka's foremost leading actor.
2004
Media Research
2004
Perspectives of Media in Sri Lanka
2010
Nidahase UrumayaFreedom's Legacy.
2011
Sannivedana PrawanathaCommunication Trends.
2011–2012
Nelum PokunaTheatre · 2nd Edition 2012 · Also published in English.
2012
Mahasamayama ha Etic NattiyawedayaEtic Drama.
2012
Wesmuhunu na VishpaurushayanayaMask and Depersonalization.
2012
A Journey to Hell and Back
2012
Asian Art and CultureEditor.
2013
Nidahas MaddyaFree Media.
2014
RangaboomiyaTheatre.
2016
Sannivedana niyaya saha akruthiCommunication Theories and Models.
2016
Sannivedana pravargaGenres of Communication.
2016
Janamathaya saha madya sanskruthiyaPublic Opinion and Media Culture.
2016
Sannivedana sankalpa saha madya saksarathawayaCommunication Concept and Media Literacy.
2016
Rupawahini vichara prathicharaTelevision Criticism.

Periodicals & Editorship

2010–2014
Desathiya
Consultant Editor
1999
Sanvida Magazine
Chief Editor · Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation
1999
Sannivedakaya Magazine
Chief Editor · Department of Mass Communication
2000
San Paper
Chief Editor · Department of Mass Communication
2013
COLOUR OF CHOGM 2013
Special International Issue

Research & Conferences

Research Projects & International Papers

1983
"The Use of Short Films for Development Communication in Rural Society"
Mahaweli areas, Sri Lanka
1989
"Mass Consciousness and Television"
Urban & Rural areas, Sri Lanka
1998
"Impact of Television on the Children of Sri Lanka" (Island-wide, ages 3–15)
Consultant
1999
"Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants"
Chief Researcher · World Bank Project
2003
"Children and Television in Sri Lanka" and "Gender Equity and Media"
Chief Researcher · Funded by SIDA
2004
Survey on Media Usage for Prevention of Tuberculosis
Chief Researcher
2006–2010
Audience Research, SLRC
Chief Researcher
2011–2014
Research and Monitoring Unit, Government Information Department
Chief Researcher
2017
Sustainable Energy School Programme
Chief Researcher · Sustainable Energy Authority

Selected International Conference Papers

2001
"ICT for Rural Development"
UNESCO Sub-Regional Workshop, Community Broadcasting in the Digital Age · Kelaniya
2002
"Television Media in Sri Lanka on the Impact of Children"
Global Knowledge Partnership · Dhaka, Bangladesh
2004
"Use of ICT and Conventional Media for Development"
13th AMIC Annual Conference · Bangkok, Thailand
2005
"Rising Above Divides — Critical Reflection of Sri Lankan National Media"
SAFMA Conference · Dhaka, Bangladesh
2015
"The Horse Race Model of Communication"
ICCFMS 2015 · World Academy of Science · London, UK
2016
Mindful Journalism Curriculum Workshop
UNESCO / Chulalongkorn University · Bangkok, Thailand

Leadership

National Posts, Memberships & Awards

2006–2009
Chairman, Sri Lanka Rupavahini CorporationBauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07.
2010–2014
Director General, Government Information DepartmentSri Lanka.
1999–2003
Board Member, University of Aesthetic StudiesUniversity of Kelaniya.
1999–2014
Member of the Board of Directors, National Film Corporation of Sri LankaMultiple tenures.
2004
Member of the Board of Directors, Independent Television Network Ltd.
2004
Member of the Board of Directors, National Institute of Education
2010–2014
Member of the Board of Directors, Sri Lanka Press Council
2003
Member of Presidential Task Force on Free Media PracticesSri Lanka.
2005
Member, Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)Singapore.
1999–2001
Media Consultant, National Integration Programme UnitMinistry of Justice.
1999
Member, Film Selection Board & Script Writer's Evaluation CommitteeNational Film Corporation.
2000
Consultant, Youth Policy CommitteeMinistry of Youth Affairs.

Awards & Honours

2000
Prize for Excellence in Media Education
Hideo Shimizu Foundation, Sri Lanka
2004
Wayamba Puthra Prasadini Abhinandana Award
For education, creation, media and national service