Linguistics as an independent field of study was recognised by  the university  in 1972  after the establishment of the Department of Linguistics under the Faculty of Humanities.
Professor S.L. Kekulawela was the founder Head of the Department of Linguistics. 
During the past thirty two years Department of  Linguistics has been  expanding its programs which include B.A. Courses in Linguistics, Translation Methods, Tamil as well as the post graduate degrees M.A., M.Phil.  and Ph.D. in Linguistics.  There is a  Tamil Certificate Course for two year duration. Sinhala as a Foreign Language is taught on request by the foreign academic institutions.

Department of Linguistics,University of Kelaniya,Dalugama ,
Kelaniya.

Phone: +94112908786

Fax : +94112908786

E-mail : linguistics@kln.ac.lk