Qualifications:
BA (Hons) University of Sydney, PhD (University of London) 1960, Fellow, British Psychological Society (F.B.Ps.S), Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences (F.A.S.S), Hon. D.Litt (University of Colombo) Sri Lanka, 2000 and (University of Western Australia), 2006.
Research Interests:
Social Policy; Australian Multiculturalism and Ethnic Affairs; Racism and Citizenship; Sri Lankan Studies; Sociology of Religion and Buddhist Studies.
Profile:
Laksiri Jayasuriya obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with First Class Honours (Psychology) and the Gold Medal from the University Sydney, Australia in 1954. Subsequently, he did his postgraduate studies at the University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), from where he obtained his Ph.D (Social Psychology) in 1959. Prior to coming to the University of Western Australia he was Dean/Social Sciences at the University of Ceylon, Colombo, Sri Lanka, in addition to holding the Foundation Chair of Sociology and Social Welfare.
He is currently Emeritus Professor and Senior Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Western Australia and has held a variety of academic and public appointments in the UK, USA, Australia and Sri Lanka. In Australia, he has been involved in a range of community activities in the field of social policy, welfare and particularly ethnic affairs where he has had a major involvement. In addition to research and writing extensively on multiculturalism and ethnic affairs policy, he has served on numerous government bodies and Committees of Inquiry until his retirement in 1992. He held the Foundation Chair of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Western Australia for over 20 years until his retirement in 1992. At the University, he also served as the Director of the Centre for Asian Studies, and also as the Chair of the WA Inter University Consortium on Development Studies (ICDS/WA).
In 1997, he was invited by University of Peradeniya (formerly University of Ceylon) Sri Lanka, to deliver the Convocation Address, and in 1999 was awarded an Hon. D.Litt by the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was the recipient of a Centenary of Federation Medal awarded in 2003 by the Australian Government in recognition of his services relating to the advocacy of multiculturalism and ethnic affairs. In 2006 the University of Western Australia conferred an Hon. D.Litt.
For further biographical details see Who's Who in Austrlaia, 2007 and National Library (N.L.A.) Manuscript Collection, MS 964.
Publications Include:
Changing Face of Sri Lankan Electoral Politics, Marshall Cavendish, Singapore, 2005.
(ed. with David Walker and Jan Gothard) Legacies of White Australia: Race, Culture and Nation. University of Western Australia Press, 2003.
Taking Rights Seriously in Australia. In Dialogue, 21 (2), 2002
Understanding Australian Racism. In Australian Universities Review, 45 (1), 2002
Australian Multiculturalism Past, Present and Future, 2001, N.L.A. website, Pandora Archive.
Rethinking Social Development: Towards an Equitable Future for Sri Lanka, South Asia Economic Journal, Vol. 2(1), 2001.
Australian Multiculturalism and Citizenship: Towards a New Paradigm. In Building the Reconciliation Bridge. Sydney: Ethnic Affaires Commission, NSW, 2000
Welfarism and Politics in Sri Lanka, School of Social Work & Social Policy, University of WA, 2000
(with Poo-Kong Kee) The Asianization of Australia? Some Facts about the Myths, Melbourne University Press, 1999
Racism, Immigration and the Law: The Australian Experience. School of Social Work and Social Policy, University or WA, 1999
Immigration and Multiculturalism in Australia. Selected Essays, Department of Social Work and Social Administration University of WA, 1997. Reprinted 1999. (Contains a listing of published papers to 1997)
(ed. with M. Lee) Social Dimensions of Development, Paradigm Press, Perth, 1994.
Read more ... "The Politics of a New Pluralism: Reframing Citizenship No. 2" (pdf.316.3 kb)
Read more ... "Taking Rights Seriously" (pdf.240 kb)
Read more ... "Integration in a Diverse Plural Society" (pdf.448.8 kb)
Read more ... "Submission to the Consultative Committee on the Draft WA Human Rights Act" (doc.74 kb)
Read more ... "Spirit of a Civic University" (pdf.59 kb)
Read more ... "Changing Ideas of Social Policies: From the Welfare State to the Enabling State" (doc.112 kb)
Read more ... "Constructions of Culture and Identity" (pdf.152.6 kb)
Read more ... "Australian Multiculturalism Reframed" (pdf.82.5 kb)
Read more ... "Australian Migration Policies (1945-2007): An Overview and Analysis (doc.106.5kb)
Affiliations and Awards:
Member, General Division: Order of Australia, AM
Honorary Member: AASW
Centenary of Federation Medal, Government of Australia
Multicultural Award, Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia
Inaugural Medal of Wesley College Foundation, University of Sydney
