The Department of English, affectionately and informally called ‘The Kadu Faculty’ symbolises the growth and national recognition accorded to the University of Kelaniya as a whole. Like the University, the English Department was initially assigned a cameo role amidst the larger cast of superstars of the Faculty of Arts, particularly the departments teaching the classical languages of Sanskrit and Pali, and Buddhist philosophy.

The Department of English Language Teaching (DELT) represents the practical, task oriented aspect of Teaching English as a second Language (TESL) in the University of Kelaniya.  It is a part of the Faculty of Humanities, but provides English courses to all the Faculties of the University of Kelaniya.  Its strength lies in its ability to liaise with students and staff from all disciplines and the department provides English for Specific Purposes (ESP) or English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses as needed.

English Language Teaching

Offering of Fine Arts as a degree program at the University of Kelaniya (then known as the Vidyalankara Campus of the Universityof Sri Lanka) commenced in 1975 under the Department of English with a batch of about 30 students. The objective of the program originally was to provide the students with an academic training in all forms of Fine Arts, though the curriculum included a small studio-component that included painting,music, and dancing. About three-years later, in 1978, the Department of Fine Art was established.

Visual Arts and Design, Music, Dancing

Department of Linguistics of the University of Kelaniya was established in 1972 under the Faculty of Humanities. At its inception, the department offered two undergraduate courses, namely, BA (General) and BA (Special); two certificate courses, namely, Sinhala and Tamil; and two postgraduate courses, namely, MA (two- year research) and PhD.

The University of Kelaniya maintains its unique reputation for study of languages being the only University in the island to offer courses in six languages- French, German, Russian, Korean, Japanese and Chinese. Additionally, Italian, Arabic and Spanish are offered for the two-year certificate course (internal students only).

French, German, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Arabic, Spanish

The Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies is one of the oldest departments that exist in the faculty of Humanities and has an outstanding international reputation. It is a vigorous and expanding center of teaching and research and remains deeply committed to the study of Pali and Buddhist Studies.

Pali, Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist Culture, Buddhist Psychology

In Sri Lanka this the only University which has a Department of Sanskrit & Eastern Studies in the Sinhala medium. The Department of Sanskrit is situated at K20 of the Building complex of the Faculty of Humanities. There are five competent Lecturers on the permanent staff. And also there is one visiting Professor, two temporary lecturers and two visiting lecturers.

Sanskrit, Eastern Studies

The Department of Sinhala is one of the largest departments in the Faculty of Humanities in the University of Kelaniya. Nearly 500 students enroll for the courses conducted by this department annually. At present the Sinhala Department of the Kelaniya University is a fully fledged department with a highly qualified staff.

Sinhala, Sinhala Literature

The Department of Western Classical Culture & Christian Culture functions as a two - subject department with one teaching Western Classical Culture and the other Christian Culture. Both subjects enable the students to gain an insight in to the foundations of Western thought, for a deeper understanding, comparative study or to widen one's vision and out look.  The Western Classical Culture section deals with the ancient civilization, history, antiquities, art, philosophy, drama and theatre, literature, literary criticism of Greece and Rome. It also teaches languages such as Greek and Latin.

Ancient civilization, history, antiquities, art, philosophy, drama and theatre, literature