USJ Alumni Professor Sunil Ariyaratne has been appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Visual and Performing Arts by President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (April 04, 2023).
Professor Ariyaratne, who is a renowned scholar, film director, author, poet and a lyricist, has received many awards and honors for his contributions to Sinhala literature and culture. He is an alumnus and a former professor council member of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, where he obtained a first-class honors degree in Sinhala in 1971. He has also served as a lecturer at the University of Kelaniya and the University of Jaffna. He holds two Doctorates in Literature from Kelaniya University and Sri Jayewardenepura University.
Senior Professor Sunil Ariyarathne has been recognized as one of the best due to receiving numerous prestigious awards. Examples of such accolades include the Wishwa Prasadini Award, Vidyodaya Vibhushana Honorary name, Sahithya Kala Shiromani Honorary award, and Kamban Award.
He is the first laic person to be appointed as the Chancellor of a Sri Lankan university from University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He will hold the position for a five-year tenure in compliance with Section 32 of the University Act No. 16 of 1978, Amended by Act No. 07 of 1985.
President’s Secretary, Mr. Saman Ekanayake, has forwarded the letter of appointment to Professor Sunil Ariyaratne, confirming his appointment as the Chancellor of the University of Visual and Performing Arts.