Sri Lanka, Aug. 7 -- Professor Wimal Dissanayake, a renowned academic, literary critic, and veteran writer who performed a pioneering mission in the field of media and mass communication studies in Sri Lanka, has passed away.

He was 86 years old at the time of his passing.

Professor Wimal Dissanayake is the foremost scholar who initiated the introduction of the subject of mass communication to the university system of this country at an academic level, serving as a founding head of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya.

Having received his primary education at Trinity College, Kandy, and entered the then University of Sri Lanka to obtain an honours degree in Sinhala, Professor Wimal Dissanayake is considere...