The Faculty of Arts was established concurrently with the inception of the Vidyodaya University in 1958. Consequently, the Faculty shares a common history with the University. Under the administration of the pioneer Dean, Prof. de Silva, the Faculty commenced its academic activities by offering subjects such as Anthropology, Archaeology, Economics, Education, Geography, and History to undergradua
tes. The Faculty expanded its strength gradually by establishing new departments and offering a wide range of subjects to a larger number of undergraduates. Since the relocation of the University to its present premises at Gangodawila, Nugegoda in 1961, the Faculty has had the Sri Sumangala Building as its main center of operation. The main administrative offices and many of the academic departments and lecture halls of the Faculty are located here. The Faculty of Arts was officially renamed in 2011 as the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, highlighting its already outstanding reputation in the disciplines of Humanities and Social Sciences, and as one of the most dynamic and diverse faculties of its kind. At present, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) is the academically most diverse faculty of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, attracting undergraduates from a wide range of backgrounds and academic interests. It is made up of sixteen academic departments, dedicated to the task of widening the academic and research potential of each generation of its student population. While offering a variety of study opportunities in numerous fields, the Faculty aims to enable its students to explore a rich system of knowledge and thus make their study a rewarding experience. The Faculty is a reputed location for many important research forums. Advanced and innovative research symposia are conducted annually at Faculty-level and also at the level of the different academic departments, thus addressing a wide range of issues related to a diversity of disciplines.
