University Academic Professional Service - 30 Years -1994-2024
Teaching Courses
· English language communication skills and English for Specific Purposes in sciences
· English language communication skills and English for Business Communication
· English Linguistics
· English Literature
· Mass Communication and Communication Skills
· Applied Linguistics, Varieties of English
· Sri Lankan Studies and Social Harmony
· Conflict Management
Research Interests
1. Multi-disciplinary Discourse analysis
2. English Language Teaching and Learning
3. Political discourse and media discourse
4. Contrastive and Error Analysis
5. Human Security
Professional Promotion Chronology
Appointment -Promotion to the Post of Professor in English
From 11th November 2022 to date.
Appointment -Promotion to the Post of Senior Lecturer in English Gr. I
From 25th August 2015 to date.
Appointment - Promotion to the Post of Senior Lecturer in English Gr. II
from 25th August 2009 to 24th August 2015
Appointment – Promotion to the Post of Lecturer in English
from 1st of April 2000 to 24th August 2009
Appointment - the Post of College Lecturer in English
from January 11th of 1995 to 31st of March 1997 till 31st of March 2000.
Academic and Professional Qualifications (08)
1. PhD in English, University of Madras, India, (7th April 2006-26th August 2009)
(Thesis: Ethnic Conflict and International Relations in the Editorials of Sri Lankan English Newspapers: a Discourse Analysis)
2. MSc in Human Security, (English Medium) University of Sri Jayawardenepure, Sri Lanka, (11th October 2001-10th January 2004)
(Multi-disciplinary: Personal and Community Security, Political Security, Environmental Security, Food Security, Health Security, Economic Security- Thesis: “Farmers’ Survival Strategies in an Ethnic Conflict Situation in Two Villages of Vavuniya District”)
3. MA in Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka,(1st April 1999-1st April 2000)
4. CTHE (Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, September 2004
Internationally accredited by The Staff & Education Development Association, The U.K.
5. PGD in Education (Teaching of English as a Second Language), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, (1st January 1997-1st January 1998)
(Dissertation: An Investigation into the Problems in Using English as the Medium of Instruction for Academic Purposes of the students of the Diploma in Accountancy and FINANCE (94/95) OF The NPAUC, Vavuniya).
6. BA (Hons) Second Upper (Majors: English, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Auxiliary: French as a Foreign Language), University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, (29th August 1988-25th September 1993) - Second Upper (class) Medium: English
7. English Access Micro scholarship Annual teacher training, a program by the U.S. State Department. 2017
8. English Access Micro scholarship Annual teacher training, a program by the U.S. State Department 2015
9. A short-term course on Literary Theory: Theories of Reading and Writing, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 2008
10. A six-hour course in Teaching Primary and Secondary Students: Second Language Teaching, the British Council, 2002
Awards for Best Performance at the Undergraduate Level (08)
1. Vinasithamby Kanagasigam Prize for the Best Performance in English Studies, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (1992)
2. University Prize for the Best Performance in General Degree Examination in Arts- Part-1, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (1990/91).
3. University Prize for the Best Performance in General Degree Examination in Arts-Part-11, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (1992).
4. A certificate as a table tennis team member placed champion in the Arts Week Competition (1993).
5. A certificate as a basketball team member placed Champion in the Arts Week Competition ( 1993).
6. A certificate as a member of the Runner-Up Team, which participated in the Jaffna District Basket Ball Tournament 1993 for the HNP Challenge Trophy, which was sponsored and organized by Hatton National Bank, Jaffna.
7. A certificate as a member of the Group Singing (English) Team, Runner- up in the Arts Week Competition (1993)
8. A certificate for Poetry Reading (English) in the Arts Week Competition (1993).
Awards of International Accreditation and
Grants (03)
“Accredited Teacher in Higher Education” awarded by The Staff & Education Development Association, (United Kingdom) September 2004
UGC Grant for PhD Studies through National Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (NCAS) 2005 September 14th)
Gnanaseelan, J. (2011, April 20). Understanding the Socio-environmental, economic and political systems (SEEPS) of the Mannar district: A Discourse Analysis of the historical and contemporary texts for tracing adaptive strategies for sustainable development (The Campus Research Grant. UJ/VC/RG/2010/03). Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna.
Manobavan, M., Krishnakuamr, S., & Gnanaseelan, J. (2009, December). Investigation of community-based adaptation (CBA) strategies for managing environmental stress induced by climate change (the Campus Research Grant. UJ/VC/RG/2009/01). Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna.
Significant highlighted contributions at the national and International Levels concerning Social, Political, Economic, Educational, and Human Security Disciplines
1. International Conference Research Paper Presenter
1. Gnanaseelan, J. (2017), 'A Qualitative Analysis on Historicizing Nationalist Discourse of the Origins of the Communities of Sri Lanka among the Contemporary Sinhalese,' Presented at the ICHHN 2017: 19th International Conference on History, Historiography, and Nationalism organized by the World Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology (WASET) held at Hotel Grand Chancellor, Melbourne, 131 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia during November 29-30, 2017.
2. Gnanaseelan & Jeyaseelan (April 27th & 28th, 2022) – The Thematic Diversity Reference Model for English Essay Writing and Assessment in Humanities & Social Sciences – Proceedings of the Abstracts, the 13th Annual Teaching and Learning conference, University of Waterloo, Canada, p.89.
3. Gnanaseelan, J. & Jeyaseelan, S. (2019), The Implications in the Use of English as the Medium of Instruction in Business Management Courses at Vavuniya Campus Presented at the ICSE 2019: 21st International Conference on Sociolinguistics and Ecolinguistics to be held in Miami, USA during Mar 11-12, 2019 by the World Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology (WASET) held at Holiday Inn Miami Beach Oceanfront 4333 Collins Ave. Florida, United States of America,
4. Gnanaseelan, J. (2008, December 18-21). Making Sense of ‘Democracy’: Constructing Ideological and Attitudinal Positions in Media Discourse on Conflict and International Intervention in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Abstracts, the 11th International Conference on “Democracy in Our Time: The Past and Future of the Enlightenment,” Varanasi, India, the Centre for Contemporary Theory, Baroda in collaboration with the Department of English, Banaras Hindu University, p.19
5. Gnanaseelan, J. (2008, September 26-27). Linguistic Structures and Strategies in Functional English: Communicating Ideological and Attitudinal Positions in Media Discourse. Proceedings of the Abstracts, the National Seminar on “Functional English,” the Dept of Communication Skills, Mandsaur Institute of Technology, Mandsaur, India.
6. Gnanaseelan, J. (2007, December 16-19). Tracing Cultural Nationalism in Traditional Homeland-based Solution to the Sri Lankan Ethnic Conflict- A Discourse Analysis Approach to the Represented Media Texts. Proceedings of the Abstracts, the 10th International Conference on Thinking Territory: Affect and Attachment Towards Land in South Asia, the Centre for Contemporary Theory, Baroda in collaboration with the Dept. of English of Goa University, p.28
7. Gnanaseelan, J. (2007, December 14). Language for Empowerment through Knowledge Management Study of Discursive Structures and Strategies in Media Discourse. In R. Azhagarasan (Chair), Knowledge Management. A symposium conducted at the Academic Staff College Forum, the University of Madras, India.
8. Gnanaseelan, J. (2006, September 21). The Sri Lankan Ethnic Conflict, Indian Intervention and Global Relations -An Ideological Discourse Analysis of a Sri Lankan Newspaper Editorial’. In C.T. Indra (Chair), Literature, Language and Globalization, a symposium was conducted at the UGC Academic Staff College (University of Madras).
9. Gnanaseelan, J. (2010, June 10-12). Conflict Adaptability Strategies in the ‘Production” and “Consumption” activities in rural Vavuniya, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Abstracts, the 9th Asia Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and Production, the Hilton Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, p. 11.
10. Gnanaseelan, J. (2010, March 18). Relating the impacts of the War on the economic and human security issues of the farmers of Northern Sri Lanka in addressing Prevention of recurrence, reaching for prosperity after the War. Proceedings of the Abstracts, the 12th International Conference on Sri Lanka Studies (ICSLS), Colombo. The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka and the Open University of Sri Lanka, p.38
2. Youth Policy Forum Panellist for forming the National Youth Policy of Sri Lanka organized by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, OUSL.
3. Speaker at UN75 Global Peace Inter-generational Dialogues Platform organized by Global Peace Citizen, a UN Body, on February 5 2021.
4. Invited Speaker to the Webinar on KNDU: Militarization and Privatization of Higher Education, organized by the Jaffna University Teachers’ Association on July 31 2022.
5. Media Interviewee to the esteemed National Newspaper in India, The Indian Express, on ‘Linguistics Livens up’ to its Education Express Column published on 23-03-2007
6. Guest Speaker on ‘Social Justice and the Sri Lankan Context’ a Guest Talk at the event observing the International Day of Social Justice to the Public Servants of Vavuniya District and four Divisional Secretariats, at Vavuniya Cultural Hall, Vavuniya. The Election Commission, Sri Lanka and the District Secretariat, Vavuniya, were jointly organised on February 20, 2020.
7. Guest Speaker on University Education and Life and Prevention on Using Alcohol and Drugs and Awareness Program to the University Entrants of Vavuniya, Mannar, and Mullaitivu of the Vanni Region. It was organized under the direction of His Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka, in the President’s secretary’s letter ref. PS/DP/01/04/UGC dated November 11 2016. Prof. S. Srisena was the coordinator of the national-level program.
8. Presenter as a panelist on Harmony Day celebration - - Nurturing Foundations for Sustainable Peace - The Role of Languages in Sri Lanka - organized by the Harmony Centre on 20th September 2023
9. Resource person for ‘Doing Research for Advancement of Knowledge- Experience from Senor Academics and Recent Alumnae.’ at the National Centre for Advanced Studies at the NCAS premises of the UGC in Colombo, Sri Lanka (2011, October 27-28).
10. Resource Person the National Workshop for ‘Child Rights and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child’ and ‘American Education System.’ Under the Rainbow Access Holiday Camp 2017 Program conducted by Rainbow Resources Lanka sponsored by the Access Program of the USA government at the Institute of Addiction Management Training Center, Kaluthara of the Jinasena Training and Rehabilitation Trust, Sri Lanka. (2017, August 21 to 26th)
11. Resource Person for the Two-day Training Program for the Research Staff of the Members of Parliament organized by USAID on 28th and 29th January 2016 at CETRAC, Battaramulla, Under the USAID Funded Sri Lanka Parliament Project.
12. Resource person in the field study program June 22-23, 2011, in Batticaloa hosted by the Claremont Graduate University, School of Community and Global Health180 East Via Verde, Suite 100 San Dimas, California 91773-3901, supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center training grant: Pacific Rim Global Health Framework (PRGHF).
13. 11. Member of the Standing Committee on Teaching English as a Second Language at the UGC and national level from 2013 for 07 years. When I was the Head of the ELTU, I started attending the meetings at the UGC.
14. Member of the Steering Committee to establish UTEL Services, University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka 2016-2020 for five years and a Member of the Results Board and Writing Test Development Committee of the University Test of English Language, the University Grants Commission 2022
15. Invited volunteer specialist for the human security assessment – community and political security – in the upcountry areas from 21st to 23rd March 2022, organized by the Voluntary Organization for Vulnerable Community Development, Vavuniya.
16. Field Coordinator of the Vanni region for the Household Survey on Development and Needs Assessment coordinated by the Agribusiness Centre, Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Peradeniya, affiliated with GTZ, an International non-governmental organization, 2010.
17. Campus Representative in Divi Neguma National Programme -2013 at the District Secretariat, Vavuniya, on the invitation of the District Secretary
18. President of the Educational Development Society, Raise to Rise (RtR), at Vidathal Thivu, Mannar, for five years. It was started in 2010. It is a syndicate for sustaining Development Synergy at the local and rural levels in Mannar. A Board Member of the Society from 2016 onwards, who Initiated the society and launched its first newsletter.
19. Member of the Advisory Board, Two Day International Conference on Emerging Approaches and Methods in English Language Teaching (EAMELT); organized by The Global Association of English Studies and All India Network of English Teachers ( AINET) 09 and 10 -12-2015 at Dept. of English, School of Science and Humanities, Kongu Engineering College, India
20. Center Coordinator, Vavuniya, Global Access Program of the US Government 2014/16, English Micro-scholarships Program, nationally implemented by the Rainbow Institute of Communication and English for two years.
21. International Participation and Contribution (In Person before the COVID-19)
International Participation and Contribution (in person) at the Significant Scholarly Symposium on Spirit in the Dark: Commemorating 50 years of James Cone’s ground-breaking book, Black Theology & Black Power, held at The Rotunda, the Dome Room, University of Virginia, 1826 University Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22904, The United States of America on 29th and 30th March 2019 Organized by Department of Religious Studies
International Participation and Contribution (in person) Significant at the Conference International Conference on the Politics of Gender, Sexuality, and Pedagogy in a ‘Post-Truth’ World, held at RMIT University, School of Education PO Box 71, Bundoora VIC 3083, Melbourne Australia on 12th and 13th December 2017.
Two-day National Seminar on Information and Communication Laws. Organized by Dept. of Legal Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India on 22nd and 23rd March 2007
UGC National seminar on Psychology: Promoting Corporate Excellence at Dept. of Psychology, University of Madras, Chennai, India On 1st and 2nd February 2008
The Twelfth National Workshop of the Forum on Contemporary Theory, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, was held at the Center for Contemporary Theory from 3rd to 5th November 2007, India.
National Seminar on Changing Power Equation: a gender perspective held at the University of Madras, Chepauk, Chennai on 21st and 22nd August 2007.
National Seminar on After Globalization: Resurgence of History, Ideology, Nation and Religion from 23rd to 24th November 2006 at Dept. of Humanities and Social Science, IIT, Madras, India.
National Seminar on subaltern Hermeneutics and Social Transformation held at the Dept. of Christian Studies of the University of Madras, Chepauk, Chennai on 19th and 20th September 2006.
22. Resource person for Short Courses on human security, conflict management and communication:
Youth Leadership Program for Vavuniya and Batticaloa. The UNDP sponsored it. It was conducted by the Industry Community Interaction Cell (ICICVC) of the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna from November 2015 to March 2017.
Conflict Management - eight groups totaling 87 hours.
Youth Leadership Program for Group C Vavuniya. The UNDP sponsored it. It was conducted by the Industry Community Interaction Cell (ICICVC) of the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna from November 2016 to March 2017.
Human Security in Sri Lanka - 07 hours
Youth Leadership Program for Vavuniya. The UNDP sponsored it. It was conducted by the Industry Community Interaction Cell (ICICVC) of the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna from November 2016 to March 2017.
Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation - 06 hours
Youth Leadership Program for Vavuniya and Batticaloa. The UNDP sponsored it. It was conducted by the Industry Community Interaction Cell (ICICVC) of the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna from November 2015 to March 2017. The session was:
Communication - Eight groups - 12 hours each, totaling 96 hours
Youth Leadership Program for Puttalam. The UNDP sponsored it. It was conducted by the Faculty of Management Studies, Rajaratta University, in July 2016.
Communication Eight groups - 12 hours each, totaling 96 hours
25. Resource Person for Significant National Level events
Guest Lecturer for the Medial Literacy for Youth Program. It was sponsored by the American Information Center, US Embassy, Colombo and implemented by the Rainbow Institute of Communication and English, Colombo, in 2021. The guest lecture on RATIONALE BEHIND MEDIA LITERACY FOR YOUTH for the trainees of three districts in virtual mode. There were around 25 participants present in each district. Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Kunagala – 17th, 19th and 21st August 2021.
Resource Person for the Soft Skills Development program organized by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Jaffna for the second students (170) of the Faculty at the Kilinochchi premises from January 31 to February 15, 2022.
Resource Person for ‘Child Rights and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for the school children of the Vavuniya District. A Community outreach program. (2018, July 24).
Resource Person for the World of Works. The Special Projects for the A/L passed out, a symposium conducted by the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority, Vavuniya, sponsored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Vocational skill Development at Suthananda YMHA, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka. (2011, March 29).
Resource Person for Economizing housing and feeling personal and community security in living in the urban habitat. A symposium was conducted on World Habit Day at the Saiva Prakasa Ladies College auditorium, Vavuniya, organized by the National Housing Development Authority, Vavuniya Branch, Sri Lanka. (2010, November 25).
Resource Person for ‘Professional Report Writing for Engineers’ a workshop conducted to the Engineers of the Vavuniya District, organized by the Institution of Engineers (IESL) Sri Lanka. (January 22, 2020).
Resource Person for The Course Unit, Social Harmony ACU 2110, for the first-year students of the faculty of Business Studies of Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna 2015/16 from -20-04-2015
Resource Person for The Course Unit, Sri Lankan Studies and Social Harmony, for the first-year students of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna for the 2012/13 batch for one Year
Resource Person for The Course Unit, Communication Skills, for the first-year students of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna from -1-09-2012 onwards in every first semester of every Year. 30 hours per semester for two years 2012 – 2013
Resource Person for The Course Unit, Sri Lankan Studies CC 04E in the Diploma in English program in 1996 when Vavuniya Campus was functioning as the Northern Province Affiliated University College.
26. Course Manual Developer
1. The course manual for Communication in a Short Course on Youth Leadership Program Vavuniya and Batticaloa sponsored by the UNDP and conducted by the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna in 2015 – 2017.
2. The course manual for Conflict Management in a Short Course on Youth Leadership Program Vavuniya and Batticaloa sponsored by the UNDP and conducted by the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna in 2015 – 2017
Dissertation Examiner
Dissertation in MA in Development Studies and Public Policy, Department of Social Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Open University of Sri Lanka, April 2021. Anger Management in the Workplace: a case study of a bank.
Dissertation in MA in Development Studies and Public Policy, Department of Social Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Open University of Sri Lanka, December 2013. Effectiveness of Grant plus Credit Interventions in the post-war Environment: A Case Study about Micro-finance Programs of a Women Rural Development Society in the Kilinochchi District
Consultant in Development and Research Projects and Publication of Commissioned Reports (07)
1. Mangaleswaran, T., Morais, N., Gnanaseelan, J. (2011, October). The Market Assessment in the resettlement areas in the two districts of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Implemented by the Consortium of INGOs, consisting World Vision and CARE Sri Lanka.
2. Mangaleswaran, T., Morais, N., Gnanaseelan, J. (2011, June). The Evaluation of the Early Recovery program in the post-war resettlement areas in the four districts of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Implemented by the Consortium of INGOs, consisting World Vision, CARE and CRS, Sri Lanka.
3. Mangaleswaran, T., Morais, N., Gnanaseelan, J. (2011, April). The development of project proposals for seed production in agriculture and livestock development and strengthening breeder societies in the Vavuniya district. Reawakening Project, Ministry of Economic Development, Sri Lanka.
4. Mangaleswaran, T., Morais, N., Gnanaseelan, J. (2011, March). Assessing livelihood opportunities for the returnees from India in the North and East. Danish Refugee Council, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka.
5. Mangaleswaran, T., Morais, N., Gnanaseelan, J. (2010, February). Developing Women-friendly Financial Services in Cooperatives in Vavuniya. Oxfam Great Britain, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka.
6. Mangaleswaran, T., Morais, N., Gnanaseelan, J. (2009, September). Assessing Existing Dairy Market Trends and Potentials in Vavuniya. Oxfam Great Britain, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka.
7. Mangaleswaran, T., & Gnanaseelan, J. (2009, December). Evaluation of the Dairy Development Project of the Social, economic and Environmental Developers (SEEDS) in Vavuniya. Oxfam Great Britain, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka.
