BA · MA · PhD (Kelaniya) | Senior Professor, Mass Communication
A distinguished academic, broadcast executive, and creative artist whose career spans over three decades bridging scholarship, journalism, television, film, and theatre in Sri Lanka.
සම්මානිත මහාචාර්ය ආරියරත්න ඇතුගල
From lecture halls to television studios, Prof. Athugala's work spans scholarship, public service, creative direction, and national media leadership.
Professor Ariyarathna Athugala is a Senior Professor and former Head of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya, with over 30 years of service since 1991. He has taught at undergraduate to doctoral levels and contributed to media and communication education in Sri Lanka. He helped modernize the Communication and Creative Arts curriculum at the University of Colombo-FOA, and was a visiting professor at Chongqing University, China. 2
Former Chairman of Sri Lanka Rupavahini (TV) Corporation and Director-General of the Department of Government Information, shaping national broadcast and media policy.
Prolific teledrama director with acclaimed series and a career in documentary filmmaking spanning over 60 works, alongside award-winning short films and screen scripts.
and Former Director of National Film Corporation
Professor Ariyarathna Athugala has authored 25+ books on communication theory, media studies, teledrama, theatre, and cultural criticism, shaping Sri Lankan media and arts discourse. His widely reprinted works bridge academic scholarship and creative writing, blending theory with cultural and literary insight.
"Media is not merely a mirror of society — it is the lens through which society chooses to see itself."
Certificate course in Television Production, SONY Corporation, Japan — a formative experience in broadcast craft.
Began a distinguished academic career in the Department of Mass Communication that would span over three decades.
Appointed Chairman of the national television broadcaster, guiding public media policy and programming at the highest level.
Served as Director-General of the Department of Government Information, overseeing national media communication strategy.
Presented "The Horse Race Model of Communication" at the 17th International Conference on Communication, Film and Media Sciences.