World Social Work Day Celebration -1
World Social Work Day Celebration - 2026

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

Welcome to the National Institute of Social Development!

More

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

Conferences

International Conference of Social Work - 2026

4th International Conference on Social Work - 2026

Undergraduate Conference - 2026

Upcoming Courses

Diploma in Counselling Matara 2026

Diploma in Counselling - Matara

Counseling Trinco-2026

Diploma in Counselling - Trincomalee

Higher Diploma in Counselling

Higher Diploma in Counselling - Seeduwa

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
  • February 17, 2026
Course Information: Duration: 12 Months Medium: Sinhala / Tamil / English Lectures are Conducted on: Weekend 9.00 a.m to 4.00...

News & Events

  • admin1
  • March 28, 2026
The National Institute of Social Development (NISD), through its Social Development Policy, Research and Publications Division, conducted a study titled...
  • admin1
  • March 28, 2026
The Workshop on Effective Field Supervision for Social Work Practice, organized by the Field Work Unit of the School of...
  • admin1
  • March 28, 2026
The Academic Public Lecture Series No. 02, organized by the National Institute of Social Development (NISD), was successfully conducted on...
  • admin1
  • March 24, 2026
World Social Work Day was commemorated globally on 17th March each year under a unifying theme that reflected the priorities...
  • admin1
  • February 19, 2026
අම්පාර, පන්ඩුකාභය මාවතේ අංක A01/B හි ස්ථාපිත නව පුහුණු, පර්යේෂණ හා ක්ෂේත්‍ර ඉගෙනුම් ප්‍රාදේශීය මධ්‍යස්ථානය විවෘත කිරීමේ උත්සවය අති උත්කර්ෂයෙන්...
  • admin1
  • February 19, 2026
The Orientation Programme for the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) 2025/2026 Intake at the National Institute of Social Development was...
  • admin1
  • February 19, 2026
The National Institute of Social Development (NISD), the pioneer institute in Social Work and Psychological Counselling education in Sri Lanka,...
  • 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 19, 2025
The Centre for Gender Studies (CGS) of the National Institute of Social Development (NISD), through its Student Working Committee, successfully...
  • admin1
  • December 19, 2025
The Centre for Gender Studies (CGS) of the National Institute of Social Development (NISD), through its Student Working Committee, successfully...
  • admin1
  • December 5, 2025
The Centre for Gender Studies (CGS) of the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) actively implemented a community support initiative...
  • admin1
  • December 5, 2025
In conjunction with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 2025, the Centre for Gender Studies (CGS)...

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
National Institute of Social Development