Prof. Kusuma Karunarathne

Prof. Kusuma Karunarathne began her academic career with her appointment as an assistant lecturer of the Department of Sinhala at the University of Ceylon. In 1967, Mrs. Karunaratne completed her post-graduate studies at the University of Essex in UK. Later she pursued graduate studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. She was awarded her doctorate from the University of Colombo. Karunaratne became the first female lecturer in the Sinhala Department at the University of Columbo, and later went on to become the first female Professor of Sinhala and the first woman to head that Department. Professor Karunaratne later became the Dean and the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo. During her career she has taught Sinhala to many Japanese, including professors and diplomats, thus helping to strengthen the relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. She has translated many English and Japanese novels to Sinhala.
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