The Department of Film and Television Production Technology was established in 2014, pioneering as a dedicated academic department for the film and television industries in Sri Lanka. Currently, two degree programs are offered under the department: Bachelor of Technology in Film and Television Production Technology and Bachelor of Technology in Media Arts Production Technology. Establishing an aca
demic department at a national university implies a commitment to building knowledge relevant to the represented field, conducting research, and fostering fresh educational perspectives. These disciplines have been taught and trained at various institutions at different levels, but several informalities have been observed. In the higher education sector, these disciplines were previously taught only as subjects or as part of other degree programs. Enrollment was typically based on the qualifications of candidates who had passed their GCE A/L exams. Consequently, many individuals in these fields found themselves without a proper local pathway to tertiary education, and their professional growth was hindered. Academic progress in these fields largely depended on foreign expertise. The Bachelor of Technology in Film and Television Production Technology degree emerged as a solution to this challenge. Consultant Electronics Engineer Mr. Stanley Hettiarachchi, who earned prestigious recognition as a broadcast engineer, editor, and teacher in television production technology and served as the Director of Media and Information Services at the University of Vocational Technology, provided the visionary spark to initiate this degree in 2012–2013. Through several constructive attempts and justifications backed by an in-depth needs analysis, he obtained approval from the Academic Council of the university to move ahead with the development. The degree curriculum was subsequently developed through the pivotal collaboration of the late Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja—a renowned filmmaker referred to by critics as "The Filmmaker of the Left Bank"—and Dr. Senesh Dissanaike Bandara, a trendsetting television producer, filmmaker, and academic. In 2014, the Bachelor of Technology in Film and Television Production Technology degree was launched as the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, offering a pathway to those working in the film and television industries. Nearly 120 undergraduates are studying to acquire their degrees, and already five batches of students have been graduated. They are actively contributing to the industry by imparting knowledge, conducting research, and implementing standard practices. Starting in 2020, the university made a policy decision to offer limited opportunities for GCE Advanced Level passed students to enroll in the degree program, provided they complete an induction program to align their skills with those of students from the industry. In 2018, another unique degree program was introduced for students seeking higher education in the field of mass media: the Bachelor of Technology in Media Arts Production Technology. The initial concept for the degree and its development process were led by Dr. Senesh Dissanaike Bandara, who served as the Head of the Department at that time. The curriculum for this program was developed by the consultant, Mr. David, a senior academic, seasoned journalist, and broadcaster. The first batch of students was enrolled in 2019. Both degrees have undergone validation by expert panels comprised of both academics and industry professionals. Dr. Senesh Dissanaike Bandara served as the first head of the department, and under his successful academic leadership, both degree programs were developed and implemented.
