We welcome you all to the Annual International Research Symposium 2026 (AIRS 2026) at the Sri Palee Campus, in partnership with the Annual Research Symposium of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. We welcome a full range of scholarly abstracts in the Media and Liberal Arts disciplines. The abstracts presented at this symposium will be published in the Annual International Research Symposium Proceedings of the Sri Palee Campus, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
DATE OF THE SYMPOSIUM: 30th October 2026
SYMPOSIUM THEME: Media and Liberal Arts in the Digital Context
The rapid expansion of digital technologies has profoundly transformed contemporary societies, reshaping media systems, cultural production, education, political communication, and everyday social interaction. Media today no longer operates solely through traditional platforms such as print, radio, or television. Instead, it is embedded within digital environments characterized by interactivity, networked communication, user participation, multimodality, and global connectivity. These transformations demand new approaches to understanding media, culture, and communication in the contemporary world.
At the same time, liberal arts education traditionally rooted in the humanities and social sciences has been compelled to reassess its relevance in an increasingly technology-driven context. Contrary to earlier assumptions that digitalization would marginalize the liberal arts, contemporary scholarship demonstrates that liberal arts disciplines are more essential than ever. Skills fostered through liberal arts education, including critical thinking, ethical reasoning, cultural analysis, and effective communication, are vital for navigating the complexities of digital media environments.
The proposed academic conference, Media and Liberal Arts in the Digital Context, seeks to create a scholarly platform to critically examine the evolving relationship between media, digital technologies, and liberal arts traditions. The conference aims to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars, and researchers, from diverse global contexts.
SUB-THEMES
- Aesthetic and creative approaches to content creation
- Communication, media, and digital technologies
- Computational analysis of performing arts and creative media
- Digital humanities, cultural heritage, and indigenous knowledge
- Digital culture, identity, representation, and power
- Ethics, truth, governance, and democracy
- Language, linguistics, semiotics, and multimodality
- Pedagogy and the future of learning in media and arts
- Performing arts, embodiment, and digital interactivity
- Theoretical re-evaluations in the digital age
DATES TO REMEMBER:
• Call for Abstracts: 19th February 2026
• Abstract Submission Deadline: 7th May 2026
• Abstract Acceptance Notification: 19th June 2026
• Camera-Ready Copy Submission: 20th July 2026
VENUE: Sri Palee Campus, University of Colombo, Wewala, Horana, Sri Lanka
MODE: Hybrid (Online & Onsite)
LANGUAGE: English
CONFERENCE FEE:
- Local Presenter – Rs.5000.00
- Local Students – Rs.3000.00
- Foreign Presenters – 75 USD
- Foreign Students – 25 USD
SUBMISSION & CONTACT: papersubmission@spc.cmb.ac.lk
| CHIEF GUEST: Professor Indika Karunathilake Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo |  |
| GUEST OF HONOUR: Prof. Prathibha Mahanamahewa Rector, Sri Palee Campus |  |
| SYMPOSIUM CHAIR: Dr. Kumesh Prabhashini, Senior Lecturer, Sri Palee Campus |  |
OFFICIAL WEB LINK – https://spc.cmb.ac.lk/airs-2026/