Sri Lanka does not have a national psychology association/organization. In 2000, the Sri Lanken regional chapter of the South Asian Association of Psychologists was formed.

Overview

Sri Lanka has very few psychologists, a problem made worse by the fact that its only undergraduate degree that specializes in the instruction of modern psychology was started only a few years ago. There are no postgraduate courses offering various specialties of psychology. On the other hand, research on Buddhist and Eastern psychology has been prevalent amongst professions allied to psychology for several decades. Membership of the Sri Lanken regional chapter of the South Asian Association of Psychologists is approximately 20 in number. This is the only body of psychologists.

Research

Amongst the few psychologists in Sri Lanka a considerable amount of research and its applications is being seen. Currently research is being done on single parent families, blue collar workers, women in the conflict area, children and trauma, victims of war, child abuse, soldiers in combat and suicide. A certain amount of research has been conducted/is being conducted on the psychological impact of the 2004 tsunami on Sri Lankans. However, this is mainly by expatriates rather than Sri Lankan psychologists.

Education

A certain amount of psychology is taught as part of sociology, education, philosophy, and mass communication courses in the universities in Sri Lanka. An undergraduate degree specialized in the instruction of modern psychology (as a main subject) was made available in one university in Sri Lanka only a few years ago. There are no postgraduate courses offering various specialties of psychology. An M.Sc. in Applied Psychology, for which interested persons from non-psychology backgrounds could apply and may gain admission, is no longer being offered although there is now a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology course offered in its place.

There are diploma courses offered from time to time in various areas of psychology such as child psychology and cognitive behavior therapy at non-university institutions.

There are no government regulations or requirements for the training of professional, applied psychologists in Sri Lanka. However, the Sri Lanka Medical Council regulated the title and practice of clinical psychology. There is no specific entry-level requirement. A potential applicant must satisfy the scrutiny board that s/he possesses a "proficiency" in clinical psychology.

Sri Lankan psychologists do not have a formal code of ethics.

Publications

Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences, 1978- , 2/year
Journal of the National Sciences Council of Sri Lanka, 4/year