Department of Commerce is the pioneer single degree awarding department in the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce. Bachelor of Commerce degree program is offered internally and externally. Bachelor of Commerce degree program is first commerce degree program and has a history of more than 40 years.
The University Grants Commission approved the Department of Commerce to function as a separate Department under the Faculty of Arts on 31st of July 1982 and it started to function on 18th of December 1983. By considering the student’s intake and other aspects, on 1st of January 1986, the Department of Commerce and Management was established as a separate department under the Faculty of Arts. However, the Department of Commerce and Management Studies was segregated into two individual departments under the Faculty of Arts.
Later on, the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce was established on 29th of May and since then Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce offered two degrees, namely Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Business Administration. However, taking the regional, national and global requirements into consideration, the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce was restructured in 2011. After the restructuring, four departments were established in the Faculty, namely, Department of Accounting, Department of Finance, Department of Human Resources and Department of Marketing and offering four special degrees under the departments’ respective names. Due to various reasons, however, the Department of Commerce was not accommodated in the restructured Faculty and was suspended in 2011.
However, University Grants Commission approved to reestablish the Department of Commerce in 2012. Newly established department was headed by Prof.K.Thevarajah up to August, 2016 and by Mr.B.Prahalathan up to July, 2022. Thereafter Dr. S.Achchuthan is rendering his services as Head of the Department.