PROF. (DR). A. RAMEEZ
Vice-Chancellor
South Eastern University of Sri Lanka,
Oluvil,
Sri Lanka.
Email - vcseu@seu.ac.lk
TP - +94 67 2255138
Prof. A. Rameez was born on 17th July 1978 in Sainthamaruthu, Ampara District, and obtained his primary education from Al-Jalal Maha Vidiyalaya, Sainthamaruthu, and his secondary education at Zahira College, Kalmunai (National School). He then entered the Faculty of Arts and Culture (FAC), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (SEUSL) in 2000 and earned a first-class honors B.A. degree specialized in Sociology in 2004. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, he was recruited as a Temporary Assistant Lecturer in Sociology in 2005 at the Department of Social Sciences, FAC of the SEUSL. While serving as a Temporary Assistant Lecturer, he was recruited as a permanent Lecturer (Prob.) in Sociology at the Department of Social Sciences, FAC, SEUSL, with effect from 15.11.2006. Having been confirmed in his post of Lecturer in Sociology, he was promoted as a Senior Lecturer, Grade. II & I in Sociology in 2011 & 2017, respectively. He was promoted as the Professor in Sociology at the Department of Sociology, FAC, SEUSL, from 05.09.2019.
Prof. Rameez earned his Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Sociology at the Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya, in 2010 and obtained his Post-Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and Peace Preparedness (C.R. & P.P.) conducted by the University of Bradford, UK, in collaboration with South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. Having won a research scholarship for Ph.D. Program at the National University of Singapore (NUS), he completed his Ph.D. at the same University in 2015 with the thesis entitled “The Ethnic Identity of Malays in Sri Lanka: Challenges of Assimilation and Their Responses.” The National University of Singapore (NUS) is one of the world’s most famous universities with 11th place in the Q.S. ranking of world universities, 241st place in the Webometric ranking of Universities in 2021, and no.1st in the Asian University ranking. Furthermore, He obtained a Diploma in Human Rights conducted by the Institute of Human Rights (IHR), Colombo, and a Diploma in English conducted by the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.
On 09.08.2021, Professor Rameez was appointed as the 5th Vice-Chancellor of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. This is the first time in the history of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka that a student of SEUSL has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor to the same University. Moreover, he is one of the most senior academic staff members of SEUSL.
Professor Rameez has extensively engaged in curriculum development and revision of degree programs, namely B.A. Honours degree Programmes at the Department of Sociology, FAC, SEUSL over the years, as he has been one of the founder staff at the Department of Sociology. He has even introduced many new courses in Sociology to cater to the demands of employment opportunities for graduates in the world of works. In addition, he has extensively been involved in the preparation of the Self Evaluation Report (Programme Review) of the Faculty of Arts and Culture and Institutional Review (I.R.) at the university level.
Professor Rameez has won many prestigious awards during his academic career. While he received a scholarship for the Study entitled “Religious Pluralism” at the Temple University, the United States of America, awarded by the U.S. States Department in 2017, he received a scholarship for International Fellowship on Inter-Religious Dialogue at KAICIID, Vienna in 2019. He has received many other academic awards like “Vice-Chancellor Awards” and “Senate Honours” provided by the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. He has received the Vice-Chancellor Award for the Most Outstanding Researcher and Most Outstanding Senior Researcher of Faculty of Arts and Culture for the Year 2018 & 2019 and received the Vice-Chancellor Award for Most Outstanding Recipient of External Research Grants to SEUSL in 2019. He has published more than 45 full research papers, out of which 16 are in peer-reviewed Indexed Journals. In addition, he has published eight (08) books, including textbooks published both in Tamil and English, 04 book chapters, and has presented more research papers in International Conferences in Sri Lanka and across the globe. He has also received two international research grants provided by the Asia Foundation and British Council with Napier University, UK, respectively, to engage in studies concerning women’s socio-economic empowerment and political participation in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.
He is a life member of many Professional Associations such as the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), National Science Foundation (NSF), and International Sociological Association (ISA). Previously, he held the position as the Director, Students Support Services and Welfare (SSSW), Director, Staff Development Centre (SDC), Coordinator for International Affairs of SEUSL, Head, Department of Sociology, and the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. He has held many other responsible positions at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka from the moment he was appointed as a permanent lecturer in 2006. He has served as a Student Counselor, Peer Observation Coordinator, Student Mentor, Senior Treasurer of the Sociological Association, Senior Treasurer of Tamil Musical Society, the Chairman and a Member of Committee of Disciplinary Inquiry Committees, Chairman of Institutional Review Proposal Writing Team, Chairman of Food Committee, Chairman of Bit Opening Committee and Technical and Evaluation Committee (TEC), Coordinator of Social Harmony Project between the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka and the University of Colombo, and South Eastern University Focal Point Coordinator of Transitional Justice Project of National Peace Council, Colombo. During this period, he has effectively confronted and handled many hurdles and problems that cropped up and ensured the University’s smooth administration and development.
He is also rendering a huge service in many national-level committees as a consultant or expert to the World Bank-funded Higher Education Projects like AHEAD. Moreover, he has served as a member of the Subject Bench Mark Statement Committee on Sociology appointed by the University Grants Commission. He has served as a member of the editorial committee and writing committee member of the employability survey on undergraduates of Universities undertaken by the University Grants Commission ahead of the Centenary Celebration of Studies on Social Sciences and Humanities in Sri Lanka in 2021. He has actively participated in the forum on “Strategies on Poverty Reduction in Sri Lanka,” held at the Presidential Secretariat on 19.10.2016, and contributed to compiling a report of national importance. Moreover, he has also effectively participated in the forum on “Strategies on Poverty Reduction in Sri Lanka-National Programme on Drug Prevention,” held at the Presidential Secretariat on 09.12.2016, and contributed to compiling a report of national importance. He now serves as a resource person in many national and international training programs as well.
Professor Rameez is currently supervising Ph.D. students and MPhil students while teaching a course for undergraduates and supervising the thesis of undergraduates. By and large, he has got sufficient experience in teaching and learning, and research in the sphere of Sociology. His research interest includes race and ethnicity, social issues, conflict and peace studies, social harmony and inter-faith dialogues.
He is proficient in all three languages: Tamil, English, and Sinhala.
Certificate in Leadership, Ministry of Vocational Training, Colombo (24th August, 2020)
Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (150 Hours), Staff Development Centre, Kelaniya University, Sri Lanka (04h April 2008).
Diploma in English (Merit Pass), Centre for External Degree and Professional Studies, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (Effective Date: 2nd June, 2003).
Diploma in Information Technology (Merit Pass), International Academy of Business Management, Sri Lanka (Effective Date: 19th June 1998).
Certificate in Counselling Centre for Extramural Studies Eastern University of Sri Lanka, ((Effective Date: 23rd March 2005).
Certificate in Disaster Management, SSM College of Arts and Science, Komaraplaayam, India (Effective Date: 18th June, 2007).
Dean, Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (From 11th July, 2019 to date).
Head, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (From 16th October, 2017 to 11th July, 2019).
Director for Staff Development Centre (SDC), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (From 2018 to 2019).
Director for Students Support Services and Welfare, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (From 10th September, 2015 to 10th September, 2018).
Acting Director for Students Support Services and Welfare, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (From 07-10-2015 to 02-11-2015).
Acting Director of Staff Development Centre, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (12th September 2015 to 23rd September, 2015).
Coordinator for International Affairs, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (From 2016 to 2017).
Regional Coordinator-Inter University Social Harmony Project, between University of Colombo and South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (01st January 2017 to 31st December 2017).
Faculty Coordinator (FAC) to the University Business Linkage Cell (UBL cell), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (01-06-2016 to 01-06-2017).
Subject Coordinator/ Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka from 01.02.2016 to 31.01.2017.
Subject Coordinator/ Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka from 01.02.2015 to 31.01.2016.
Subject Coordinator/ Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka from 13.10.2008 to 12.10.2009.
Steering Committee Member of Institutional Review Report preparation, SEUSL (12th September 2019).
Coordinator for Peer Observation, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (Letter dated: 26.11.2009).
Chairman of Procurement Committee of Ahead Project (Major & Minor), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (from 2019 to date).
Chairman of the Faculty Board of Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (from 2019 to date).
Chairman of International Conference of SEUIARS (from 2019 to date).
Chairman of Undergraduate Colloquium at Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (from 2019 to date).
Chairman of Heads’ Meeting of Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (from 2019 to date).
Chairman of Bids Opening Committee, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (2015 to date).
Chairman of Technical Evaluation Committee on the sports and stationary items purchased for South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (2015 and 2016).
Chairman of Food Committee of the University, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (From 07-12-2016 to date).
Chairman of the Curriculum Committee of Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (from 2019 to date).
Chairman of Board of Studies – Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (from 2020 to date).
Member of Standing Committee on Social Sciences and Humanities, University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka. (from 2019 to date).
Member of Standing Committee on Education, University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka (2019).
Member of Evaluation Committee of External Degree Programme Proposal Submitted by Eastern University, appointed by Standing Committee on Social Sciences and Humanities, UGC (2020).
Member of Editorial Committee on the International Conference on Centenary Year of the Discipline of Social Sciences and Humanities in Sri Lanka to be held in 2021.
Member of Committee to Revisit the By-Law of Students Union, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (08-02-2016).
Member of University Senate, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (14-03-2017).
Member of South Eastern University Senate (2017).
Member of International Sociological Association(ISA#29620), Faculty of Political Sciences and Sociology, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain (From 28-7-2016 to 12-31-2019)
Member of National Science Foundation, Colombo
Lifetime Member of Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Sciences, Colombo
Rameez, A. (2019). Sri Lankan Muslims: Dimensions and Challenges. Sociological Association of South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.
Rameez, A. (2019). Sociology of Islam: Trajectories and Challenges. Sociological Association, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.
Rameez, A. (2017). Racing against the Odds: Dynamics of Identity formation of Malays in Sri Lanka. Colombo: COSLAM.
Rameez, A. (2017). Sri Lankan Society, CEDPL: South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.
Rameez, A. (2016). Introduction to Sociology and Social Anthropology. Colombo: Chemamadu Publication.
Rameez, A. (2018). Contemporary Social Issues, Sociological Association of South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.
Rameez, A. (2017). Political Sociology. Colombo: Islamic Book House
Rameez, A. (ed.). (2019). Current Social Crisis. Colombo: Kumaran Book House.
Co-editor, Book of Abstracts, 4th International Conference on Emerging Trends in Multidisciplinary Research and Practice (SEUARS 2015), Organized by Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (22nd December 2015).
Member of Editorial Board, Book of Abstracts, 7th International Conference on Sustainable Research in the Era of Information Technology(Intsym-2017), held at South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (22nd 23rd December 2017).
Member of Editorial Board, Proceeding of Abstract, 6th International Symposium on Multidisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development – 20th, 20th December 2016, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.
Member of Editorial Board, Book of Abstracts, 5th International Conference on Emerging Trends in Multidisciplinary Research and Practice (SEUARS 2016), Organized by Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (27th December 2016).
Rameez, A. (2016). New Constitution and Contestation of North East Merger, In Colombo Telegraph, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/ index.php/new-constitution-contestation-of-north-east-merger/), 29th December, 2016.
Rameez, A. (2015). Future of Engineering Faculty at Oluvil, In Colombo Telegraph,https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/ future-of-the-engineering-faculty-at-oluvil/, 29th November, 2015.
Rameez, A. (2015). Reforms in Sri Lankan Universities, In Colombo Telegraph,https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/reforms-in-sri-lankan-universities/, 21st January, 2015.
Rameez, A. (2014). Uva Results: Defeat of Coalition of Muslim Political Parties, In Colombo Telegraph, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/uva-results-defeat-of-the-coalition-of-muslim-political-parties/, 22nd September, 2014.
Rameez, A. (2014). Unity amongst Muslim Politicians, In Colombo Telegraph, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/ index.php/unity-amongst-muslim-politicians-need-of-the-hour/), 19th June, 2014.
Rameez, A. (2013). Tamil Muslim Rapprochement is the Need of the Hour, In Colombo Telegraph, https://www.colombotelegraph. com/index.php/tamil-muslim-rapprochement-is-the-need-of-the-hour/,14th October, 2013.
Rameez, A. (2013). Orientalists’ Perspective on Sri Lankan Moors, In Colombo Telegraph, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php /orientalists-perspective-on-sri-lankan-moors, 22nd August, 2013.
Recipient of grant of 1.2 million Rs for research on Impact of Socio-Economic Development on Women Empowerment in Eastern Province: A Case Study of Batticaloa District, funded by British Council, Napier University, UK (2019). Research successfully completed.
Recipient of grant of 2 million Rs for research on Initiatives for Sustained Peaceful Interethnic relations through economic development, funded by Asia Foundation, Colombo (2018). Research successfully completed.
Recipient of grant of 0.7 million Rs for research on Women’s Participation in Local Governance: A Case Study of Selected Local Government Bodies in Eastern Sri Lanka, funded by Asia Foundation, Colombo( 2017). Research successfully completed.
Recipient of grant of 0.7 million along with Mr.MAM. Fowser and Prof. MAM, Rameez for research on Citizens’ Trust in Public Institutions in Eastern Province: An Empirical Survey, funded by Asia Foundation, Colombo (2017). Grant of 0.7 Million. Research successfully completed.
Has recently received a grant of 0.5 million Rs for research on Responses of Religious Institutions and its Leaders in the Covid-19: A Case Study in Ampara District, funded by KAICIID, Colombo (2021). Research is ongoing.
Rameez, A., Fowsar, M.A.M, Lumna, N (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on Higher Education Sectors in Sri Lanka: A Study based on South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Journal of Educational and Social Research, Vol. 10 (6): 341-349. (Indexed in Scopus & SCIMAGO).
Rameez, A. (2020). Post-War Development and Women’s Empowerment in Eastern Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Batticaloa District in Eastern Province, Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. 9 (4): 133-149. (Indexed in Scopus & SCIMAGO).
Rameez, A., Fowsar, M.A.M, Rameez, M.A.M (2020). Muslim Minority in Post-war Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Aluthgama and Digana Violence, Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. 9 (6): 56-78. (Indexed in Scopus & SCIMAGO).
Rameez, A. (2018). Political Participation of Women In Local Governance: Case Study of Selected Local Government Bodies in Eastern Sri Lanka, Journal of Asian and African Studies, 2018, Vol. 53(7): 1043 – 1061 (Indexed in Scopus). http://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/3yGJeryYgWVFejvhKrEf/full.
Rameez, A. (2018). Sociology of Sri Lankan Muslims: Dealing with different dimensions of Muslim Society, Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 13(07): 1782-1793 (Indexed in Scopus).
Rameez, A. (2018). Resurgence of Ethno-Religious Sentiment against Muslims in Sri Lanka: Recent Anti-Muslim Violence in Ampara and Kandy, Journal of Politics and Law, Vol.11 (4): 27-39 1061 (Indexed in Emerging Sources of Citation Index (Clarivate Analytics).
Rameez, A. (2018). Eurocentrism and the Contribution of Ibn Khaldun to the Growth of Sociology, Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol.11 (6): 41-46 (Indexed in Excellence in Research in Australia (ERA).
Rameez, A. (2018). Caste and Islamic Revivalist Movements: A Case Study of Eastern Muslims in Sri Lanka, International Journal of Islamic Thought, UKM,, Vol. 13 (1): 01-14. (Indexed in Web of Science).
Rameez, A. (2019). English Language Proficiency and Employability of University Students: A Sociological Study of Undergraduates at Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, International Journal of English Linguistics, Vol.09 (2): 199-209 (Indexed in Emerging Sources of Citation Index (Clarivate Analytics).
Rameez, A. (2019). Second Minority in Sri Lanka: Genesis and Current Crisis, International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences Vol. 6(4): 53-58 (Indexed in Emerging Sources of Citation Index (Clarivate Analytics)).
Rameez, A, Fowsar, M.A.M. (2018). An Empirical Survey on Factors Affecting Citizens’ Trust in Public Institutions in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, Journal of Politics and Law, Vol.11 (2): 88-100 (Indexed in Emerging Sources of Citation Index (Clarivate Analytics)).
Rameez, A. (2019). Challenges and Implication to the Ethnic Identity of Minority Malays in Sri Lanka, Journal of Social Sciences Research, Vol. 05(4): 1005-1015 (Indexed in Scopus).
Faculty of Technology,
South Eastern University of Sri Lanka,
University Park,
Oluvil,
#32360,
Sri Lanka.
+94 67 2255062
vcseu@seu.ac.lk
