• Orientation Programme
    Orientation Programme – Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) 2024/2025 Intake
15th Convocation and Diploma Award Ceremony 2025
15th Convocation and Diploma Award Ceremony 2025

WELCOME TO NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Welcome to the National Institute of Social Development (NISD), the premier institution in Social Work education in Sri Lanka. We are recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as a degree awarding Institute, under section 25A of the Universities Act No.16 of 1978. NISD is a statutory body functioning under the purview of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment. NISD is committed to be an educational institution producing professional social workers to serve the social welfare, promote social development and social empowerment.

Vision

Vision

To be a center of excellence, nationally and globally in Social Work Education, Training and Research

Mission

Mission

To enhance human resources for social development through the preparation of competent manpower in social work at all levels, generate and disseminate new knowledge and technologies for social work practice, provide specialized services for social welfare and social development

Director General’s Message

Director General - NISD

Professor Premakumara de Silva
Director General (Acting)

Welcome to the National Institute of Social Development!

More

73
years since establishment
1804
Students in 2024
94
Staff
2800
Alumni
5
Partners

Conferences

1st International Conference on Social Development - 2025

Undergraduate Conference - 2025

28th Asia Pacific Social Work Regional Conference - 2025

Conference-on-Gender-Studies-2025

National Conference on Gender Studies - 2025

Upcoming Courses

Diploma in Counselling - Seeduwa

Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) Degree Programme

Diploma in Counselling Monaragala

Diploma in Counselling - Monaragala

Explore a lifetime of learning

The world is changing and now, more than ever, it needs people committed to making a difference. People ready to explore, question, research, challenge and lead. The world needs U.

Latest news

  • admin1
  • December 22, 2025
Course Information: Duration: 12 Months Medium: Sinhala / Tamil / English Lectures are Conducted on: Weekend 9.00 a.m to 4.00...
  • admin1
  • December 1, 2025
The dates for returning cloaks and collecting certificates have been rescheduled to:𝟏𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟏𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫. Due to the adverse...
  • admin1
  • August 22, 2025
Application closing date extended to 31st December 2025    

News & Events

  • admin1
  • December 23, 2025
Competing with 18 leading universities across Sri Lanka, the ZeroPlastic NISD Club proudly marked a historic milestone at the 2025...
  • admin1
  • December 3, 2025
The National Institute of Social Development (NISD) proudly held its 15th Annual Convocation and Diploma Awarding Ceremony on 27 November...
  • admin1
  • November 26, 2025
The 28th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference (APSWC 2025) was successfully held in Sri Lanka from 18 to 21 November...
  • admin1
  • November 15, 2025
A Training Workshop for Field Supervisors involved in the Field Placement components of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and...
  • admin1
  • October 29, 2025
The Web Development Committee of the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) organized a Workshop on Developing the Academic Profiles...
  • admin1
  • October 15, 2025
ග‍්‍රාමීය සංවර්ධන, සමාජ ආරක්‍ෂණ  සහ ප‍්‍රජා සවිබලගැන්වීම් අමාත්‍යාංශය යටතේ ක්‍රියාත්මක වන ජාතික සමාජ සංවර්ධන ආයතනය ලාංකේය ජන සමාජය තුළ දිළිදුුකම...
  • admin1
  • October 5, 2025
Vaani Vizha 2025 was celebrated on the 3rd of October 2025 with great enthusiasm and cultural vibrancy. The event was...
  • admin1
  • September 18, 2025
The Centre for Gender Studies, National Institute of Social Development (NISD) is proud to announce the successful completion of the...
  • admin1
  • September 16, 2025
The Annual Cricket Tournament, organized by the 4th-year BSW students, was held on the 9th and 10th of September 2025...
  • admin1
  • September 10, 2025
Under the national project Clean Sri Lanka, NISD organized “Seiri Week” from September 1st to 4th. The theme of the...
  • admin1
  • August 25, 2025
The English Day Festival of NISD was held on the 21st of September 2025 from 1.00 p.m. onwards at the...
  • admin1
  • August 20, 2025
The National Institute of Social Development (NISD) organized the first session of its Academic Public Lecture Series on the 15th...

Affiliations

Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers

The International Consortium on Social Development (ICSD)

The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)

The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)

The Asia Pacific Association of Social Work Education (APASWE)



Hon Dr. Upali Pannilage
Minister, Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment

Hon Wasantha Piyathissa
Deputy Minister, Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment

Mr. Sampath Manthrinayake

Mr. Sampath Manthrinayake
The Secretary,
Ministry of Rural Development,
Social Security and Community Empowerment

Prof. .Premakumara de Silva

Professor
Premakumara de Silva

Director General (Act.)
National Institute of Social Development