After establishing the Sociology Alumni Association - University of Colombo, the first event organized by the Association in Collaboration with the Department of Sociology was the have Newton Gunasinghe Memorial Lecture – 2009 on 22nd October 2009 at the Auditorium of the National Library and Documentation Services Board. In Colombo The memorial lecture was delivered by Prof. Tissa Kariyawasam on the theme ‘A reading of Politics and History of 20th Century Dancing in Sri Lanka’. The lecture was delivered in the Sinhala language. Mr. Jagath Bandara Pathirage gave a brief Introduction to the event while Prof. Sasanka Perera welcomed the participants on behalf of the Department and SAAUC. Prior to the memorial lecture, Dr. Subhangi Herath gave a brief description on contribution of Dr. Newton Gunasinghe toward the development of the discipline of sociology in Sri Lanka as well as a recollections of him as a teacher at the Department of Sociology, University of Colombo. The event was chaired by Prof. Ramanie Jayathillake. Anton Piayarathne, Secretary SAAUC proposed the vote of thank. The text of the lecture was published by SAAUC. There were around 100 participants at the event due to the publicity given through both print and electronic media. The event was sponsored by the Social Scientists Association as well as the HS Trading Company and Crafts Suppliers Private Limited under the Coordination of Ms. Jinali Chandrika of SAAUC.

The text of the lecture is available at the Library of the Department of Sociology for Rs. 100.00. The proceeds will fund future activities of SAAUC