The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) of the University of Kelaniya (UoK), Sri Lanka, was established on the 3^rd of January, in 1998. The faculty was able to successfully host its inaugural research symposium with the support of the vibrant academic community within two years of its establishment, marking a major milestone in the development of the research culture at the University of Kelaniya.

Since 2000, the FGS has been actively organizing an annual research symposium. The conference was originally named the "Annual Research Symposium (ARS)” from 2000 until 2014. Over the years, the symposium has evolved in name and scope, showcasing diverse research and innovations in various disciplines.

It was renamed the "International Postgraduate Research Conference" (IPRC) as a part of a rebranding initiative that was launched in response to the conference's increased international participation and its expanding multidisciplinary nature.

IPRC holds the esteemed title of being the oldest and most pioneering research conference at the UoK, continuing over two decades, a reflection of the constant dedication of FGS to encourage advanced research. It has successfully held 23 successive annual conferences, making it a flagship event in the academic calendar of the University of Kelaniya.

The FGS has evolved through its annual research conference, serving as a platform for knowledge exchange in prevailing local and global contexts to provide participants with the most recent insights and discussions. Every theme that the IPRC has addressed throughout the years has emphasized its commitment to foster an active research culture, encourage faculty innovation, and promote intellectual growth. Captivating themes like "The Multi-Faceted Nature of Research in the 21st Century (2012)" and "Collaboration & Innovation in Research (2013)" showcased the faculty's early focus on understanding research trends and fostering collaboration. The central focus of the theme "Discourse values of Sri Lanka; reconciliation, development, equality, and pluralism (2014)" is to promote dialogue, understanding, collaboration to address Sri Lanka's reconciliation challenges.

With the IPRC, the conference gained international recognition, exploring themes like "Dynamic Collaborations: Creativity, Innovation, and Stability (2016)", “Research for Sustainable Development, Applications Beyond Publications (2017)”, “Multi-disciplinary research for Sustainable Development: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward (2018)” , “Sustaining Multidisciplinary research through Digital transformation/s (2019)” and continued to prioritize multidisciplinary research, digital transformations, and sustainable research in a changing world. Notably, the conference highlighted “Sustaining Excellence in Multidisciplinary research in the Context of the new Normal (2021)” and “Research and Innovations in Crisis Situations (2022)”, demonstrating adaptability and dedication to addressing global challenges through academic inquiry. 

The conference serves as a catalyst for scientific, economic, social, cultural, and sustainable development. Over the years, IPRC has been privileged to serve as a consistent platform for practitioners, academics, policymakers, researchers, and postgraduate students to share their experiences and expertise. It also promotes collaboration, knowledge exchange, the exploration of innovative solutions to the challenges posed by crisis situations, and quality of life.

From its inception, IPRC aimed to create a platform to provide opportunities for young researchers and postgraduate students to present their high-quality research across different fields of study, share their findings, and share their experiences with a wider audience. At the same time, IPRC contributes to the advancement of various fields of study to establish a much-needed "Research Culture" in the university system.

Now, as the faculty prepares for its upcoming conference in November 2023, under the theme "Enrichment of Academic Strength through Research" reflects the significance of continuous learning through exploration in research. It seeks to highlight the importance of conducting further studies to validate findings, staying updated with the latest technologies and methodologies, and understanding how to translate theoretical knowledge into practical applications. By fostering a culture of ongoing research and awareness across all disciplines, we aim to empower researchers to make meaningful contributions that positively impact real-world scenarios.

The IPRC 2023 expanded its focus to address issues and emerging concepts in various domains, including Science, Computing and Technology, Mathematics, Medical Science, Accounting, Business and Management Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Digital Learning, and Multidisciplinary Studies, and the role they play in scientific, economic, social, cultural, and sustainable development.