Prof. Nira Wickramasinghe is the Professor of Modern South Asian Studies at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies, in the Netherlands. Her primary interests are identity politics, everyday life under colonialism and the relationship between state and society in modern South Asia

Dr. Shamara Wettimuny is the incoming Junior Research Fellow (October 2023) in History at Queen’s College, University of Oxford. She completed a D.Phil in History from Brasenose College, University of Oxford, where she was a Beit Scholar in Commonwealth and Imperial History.

Dr Romesh Ranawana is CEO and Founder of Enterprise Machine Learning (Pvt) Ltd. Enterprise Machine Learning advises and consults several multi-national organizations on scaling their AI and Machine Learning capabilities

Umesh Moramudali is a lecturer of economics at the University of Colombo whose research focuses on public debt, public finance, economic development, political economy, and taxation. He is also a Chevening scholar.

Andrew Fowler-Watt was born and educated in the UK. He won scholarships to Eton and Cambridge, where he studied English and was a Choral Scholar at St John’s College. .he served as the Principal of Colombo International School and The British School and the principal of Trinity College, Sri Lanka, one of the largest and most prestigious schools in the country.

Professor Lakshman L. Ratnayake who is the current Chairman/Chancellor of Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) is a Senior Professor of Civil Engineering as well in the Institute. He is an Emeritus Professor at University of Moratuwa. He was a Professor and Senior Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa.

Mr. David Boehm is a committed educator, technologist, and social entrepreneur. He currently works as the Director of Technology at British School in Colombo and Board Chair, Teach First Sri Lanka. Co-founded public charter school (Inwood Academy) in 2010, serving as CFO/COO/CTO

Ms. Gayanthi Ranatunga is a Political Science Research Consultant and Lawyer whose research focuses on politics and governance. She has worked as a Research Consultant for the Center for Policy Alternatives, the INFORM Human Rights Documentation Center and the Human Rights Center. She was the recipient of the Rotary Peace Fellowship 2021.

Professor Goonasekara is one of the most eminent jurists in Sri Lanka and a social activist. She has done outstanding research on gender studies and human rights in South Asia. She was the first female Professor of Law to be appointed at the Open University of Sri Lanka in 1983. She worked as the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo from 1999 until 2002

 PhD (Leeds), MA (Canada), BA (Colombo)

Professor Nayani Melegoda is the senior professor of international relations at the University of Colombo. She serves as the Executive Director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies in Sri Lanka.

DPhil (Oxon), LLM (Harvard), MSc (Oxon), LLB (Colombo)

Dr. Gehan Goonathilaka is a lawyer specialising in Sri Lankan law, and international law, and a founding partner at LexAG, a Colombo-based law firm specialising in corporate, commercial, and intellectual property law. He was a former advisor to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2015- 2018). He’s a Junior Research Fellow, Pembroke College,Oxford.

PhD (Purdue), BSc (Kent), MSc (Kent)

Sanjiva Weerawarana is a CEO, software developer and open-source software evangelist. He is known for his work on Web Services standards including WSDL, BPEL, and WS-Addressing. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of WSO2, an open-source middleware company, and creator of the Ballerina programming language.

Mr. Vijitha Nanayakkara is a market researcher who is also the CEO of Aavya Research. He also heads the RISE UP School Nutrition program. He is a fully qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

MSc (LSE), BSc (Bristol)

Sarah is a researcher and author who specialises in the areas of peace building and reconciliation. She has worked amidst a range of complex cultural contexts with diverse organisations. Currently Sarah is leading a documentary project that will explore and highlight critical moments in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history that have been largely overlooked in the mainstream or education curriculum.

PhD (Arizona), BSc (University of Colombo)

Dr. Chandanamali Punchihewa is a scientist with extensive experience in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Drug Discovery. Founded Genelabs Medical (Pvt) Ltd in order to perform highcomplexity genetic tests that have not been available in Sri Lanka

Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda was responsible for the discovery and/or description of almost 100 new species of vertebrates from Sri Lanka, has a number of fish and amphibians named after him, has penned a number of books, is a Rolex laureate, and most recently, the recipient of the prestigious Linnean Medal for Zoology 2022

Ph.D (University of Wales), M.Sc (University of Wales), B.Sc (University of Colombo)

Dr. Ruvan Weerasinghe is Head of Data Science at Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) He is involved in education reform through exploring innovative delivery of content; researcher in human language processing with a view to increasing accessibility to information for all – and particularly in machine translation as a contribution to breaking down barriers.

PhD (MIT), MSc (Harvard), BSc (Imperial
College UK)

Nalin Kulatilaka, Associate Director at the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS), is the Wing Tat Lee Family, Professor of Management and Professor of Finance at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, Director of the Impact Measurement & Allocation Program, and serves as the Co-Director of the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy. He has published over 75 papers in top academic journals as well as influential managerial publications.

 PhD (York University), MA (Oxon), MA (LSE)

Dr. Studin was a professor and program director at the School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto from 2009 until 2014, Studin was a visiting professor at leading schools of public policy in North America, Europe and Asia. He was a member of the small team that wrote Canada’s first-ever national security policy in 2004. Irvin Studin is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Global Brief magazine, and President of The Institute for 21st Century Questions. He is also the Chair of the Worldwide Commission to Educate All Kids (Post-Pandemic).

PhD

Prof Vickers serves as the UNESCO Chair on Education for Peace, Social Justice and Global
Citizenship. After almost a decade at the Institute of Education in London (now part of UCL), he
moved to Kyushu University in 2012. He is the author and editor of many books on the history and
politics of education in contemporary Asia.

PhD

Izhar Oplatka is a professor of Educational Administration and Leadership at The School of
Education, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Prof. Oplatka’s research focuses on the lives and career
of school teachers and educational leaders, educational marketing, emotions, and the
foundations of educational administration as a field of study.

Dr. Shantayanan Devarajan is a Professor of International Development at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He has extensive experience, including a 28-year tenure at the World Bank, where he held various key roles, including Chief Economist. He advises governments in Sri Lanka, Maldives, and the Ebony Center in South Sudan. Shanta has authored over 150 publications, covering topics like public economics, trade policy, natural resources, and more. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from UC Berkeley.

M.Agr. and D.Agr. (Hiroshima Univ of Japan) B.Sc (Peradeniya)

He has more than 36 years of experience as an academic attached to the Department of Crop Science of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Prof. Marambe has won the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the International Weed Science Society (IWSS) in 2022 for the contribution made to field of Weed Science. His research interests include weed science, climate change adaptation, and food security.

PhD (Colombo), BSc (Colombo)

Dr. Iroja Caldera is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo. Her area of expertise is on the anatomical and physiological responses of plants to environmental changes in the context of climate change. An attorney-at-law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, she also teaches environmental law and has undertaken studies on the implementation of the SDGs. Her interests include climate resilience & sustainability.

PhD & BSc (Harvard)

Dr. Sharmini Coorey is a member of the Presidential Advisory Group on Multilateral Engagement and Debt Sustainability advising the Government of Sri Lanka and a former Department Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Her 35 year experience at the IMF includes surveillance and program work in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere as well as Fund policy work.

BA (PPE-Oxford University), MSc (London School of Economics)

Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance. He was also a member of the National Trade Negotiation Committee where he led negotiations on trade in services, completing Sri Lanka’s first bilateral trade in services agreement with Singapore. Formerly, Senior Economist – Hayley’s group & Commissioner – Securities & Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka.

MBBS, MSc (Cambridge)

A Fellow and Executive Director of the Institute for Health Policy. He is a physician and economist with degrees in Political Science and Medicine from the University of Cambridge and doctoral training in Health Economics from Harvard University.

BA (Wellesley College, USA), MA (Stanford University).

A Sri Lankan community development and youth activist. she co -founded without borders, an initiative which is a grassroots effort to improve capacity building, language skills, and personal development opportunities for youth living in areas of high unemployment.

MBBS, MD (University of Colombo)

Saroj Jayasinghe is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Colombo and a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka. His research interests cover a wide range of disciplines and fields, including education, clinical medicine, mathematical modeling, humanities, device development, population health, and ethics.

These diverse fields of interest form parts of a wider canvas that he links using a systems approach. He was a member of the Science Committee on Urban Health and Wellbeing: A Systems Approach of the International Science Council and has co-authored several key publications on systems thinking. He has won many national and international awards and achievements. These include the Presidential Awards for research, and being among a group of scientists who reached the top 2% of a global ranking based on citations. He is a strong advocate for developing a more structured approach to science advice in Sri Lanka and the ethical dimensions in science diplomacy

University of Colombo (LL.B. (Hons.) and LL.M. Degrees)  University of California at Berkeley, USA (LL.M. and Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD) Degrees in international human rights law).

Prof. Nelum Deepika Udagama— is currently the Chair Professor of Law and Head, Department of Law, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.  In 1991 she founded the  Centre for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR) at the University of Colombo through which she did pioneering work on human rights education within the public university system and for the larger community.

She served as the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (October, 2015 – August, 2020)

B.A. English (Hons) from Delhi University, Master of International Studies (MIS) from The University of Queensland, Doctor of Philosophy – PhD from the University of Otago

He is currently the Research Director of the Disinformation Project in New Zealand. Awarded fellowships by the Ashoka and Rotary World Peace Foundation, he was the first TED Fellow from Sri Lanka. Since 2001, he has been at the forefront of pioneering the integration of technology into peacebuilding initiatives. In 2007, he founded and curated Groundviews, Sri Lanka’s first citizen journalism website, until June 2020. His expertise extends beyond Sri Lanka and South Asia, covering extensive work in five continents over two decades. He has worked on civic media, information disorders, new media literacy, web activism, digital security, and online advocacy.

An accomplished professional, CEO of the software product engineering Company, CEYNOCTA since 2009, and co-founder of the data science company DAYTA iQube. They are a computer engineer with 23 years of experience and a strong technical background, having received their B.Sc degree in IT and Computer Engineering from Moscow State University of Railway Engineering (Russian University of Transport – MIIT), Russia in 2000 and an MBA from Open University of Malaysia in 2016. Holding professional memberships from the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), British Computer Society (BCS), Project Management Institute (PMI), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), they have served in several government institutions such as the Ministry of Education, University of Colombo, Faculty of Education, and have been involved in several national research projects in Sri Lanka. They also served at the Information & Communication Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) as a Consultant/Internet Technology Specialist for the telecenter project “Nenasala” in 2003, and Greater Colombo Urban Transport Development Project (OCH Project), Township Development Component, Ministry of Megapolis & Western Development as a Consultant/System Integration Specialist. A member of the visiting faculty of the Edith Cowan University (ECU) Sri Lanka Campus since 2012, they also volunteer as the Executive Vice President/Board Director of PMI Sri Lanka Chapter and as the Secretary of the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist Countries (ASLGSC).

Mr. Deepal Sooriyaarachchi is a forward-thinking leader with a successful background in corporate management. He has made significant contributions to the advancement of the marketing field and broader national issues. Mr. Sooriyaarachchi is a respected figure in management, known for his expertise as an author, speaker, trainer, and consultant, particularly in Marketing, Strategy, and Human Resource Development. With over thirty years of experience encompassing Sales, Advertising, Marketing, Human Resource Management, and General Management, he has spent more than fifteen years in senior management roles, gaining valuable local and international experience.

MBBS, MBA, Dip, MCGP

A visionary medical entrepreneur and Psychological Counsellor, with extensive experience as a Family Physician and Psychological Counselor at prestigious hospitals in Sri Lanka. He is a seasoned professional in business administration, holding an MBA with international recognition, and is deeply involved in digital technologies, real estate, and management consultancy.

MA Corruption and Governance, University of Sussex, LLB, Attorney- at-Law.

Formerly, Deputy Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka. Sankhitha is a lawyer and an anti-corruption activist with a particular focus on the right to information, election campaign finance, asset declarations and asset recovery. She is a Chevening Scholar.

MBBS (Jaffna), MPhil (Kelaniya), MDPsych (Colombo), FRCPsych (UK), FSLCOP.

He is a Professor in Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists UK and the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists. He is a past President of the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists and currently the President of the SAARC Psychiatric Federation. He has also been a consultant to the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation under the President of Sri Lanka to help in rebuilding a peaceful and tolerant Sri Lanka between 2011 – 2015.

BA (Colombo) MA (Colombo) PhD (Wellington)

Currently a senior lecturer at the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo. She currently teaches an introductory course for International Relations, Geopolitics, South Asia, Advanced Theories of IR and Research Methodology at the undergraduate level and critical theories in International Relations, Gender, Migration and Research Methodology at the postgraduate level.

MPhil (University of Cambridge), BSc (University of London)

Aneetha recently graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MPhil in Public Policy. She has a background in research, management and advocacy, having worked as an Analyst and Research Manager at the Advocata Institute. In addition, she has experience working in government, as an Analyst at the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs.

BSc (University of Colombo)

Dhananath is currently the chief executive officer of Advocata Institute, an economic policy think tank in Sri Lanka, where he is a founder member. Previously he held the position of Associate Research Director at Breakthrough Business Intelligence, a leading market research agency in Sri Lanka and as an Executive at MAS Holdings a leading apparel exporter in Sri Lanka/Asia. Dhananath is also a curator and founding member of AK Lit Fest, a trilingual literary festival dedicated to showcasing local authors of Sri Lanka. He is also a member of Tik Tok Safety advisory council for South Asia.

BA (Hons), MRDP, PhD

Dr. Ramasamy is a senior lecturer in Political Science at the University of Peradeniya. His research interests are largely on quality of governance, corruption, institutional trust, public service delivery and minority rights. He teaches governance, public policy, human rights, development administration and research methodology at both bachelors and postgraduate levels over the last ten years. He has coordinated governance and trust surveys in Sri Lanka (2015 and 2020) under NORHED project on Policy and Governance Studies in South Asia.

BA, MA (University of Colombo), MPA – Public Policy Analysis (Harvard
Kennedy School), PhD (Melbourne), Edward A. Mason Fellow

Dr Roshan Perera is a public policy specialist with more than 20 years experience in formulating and
implementing monetary and fiscal policy. She also has expertise in regulating and supervising financial
institutions and in helping strengthen approaches to managing risks. She was a Director at the Central
Bank of Sri Lanka and is presently a Senior Research Fellow at the Advocata Institute, an independent
policy think tank.

LLB and LLM (RANEPA), BBA (Staffordshire University)

Mr.Asela Waidyalankara who received his LLB and LLM from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration is a cyber-security thought leader based in Sri Lanka, with more than a decade of experience in progressive technology, digital strategy and policy. He received his BBA from the University of Staffordshire in 2008. Garnering qualifications in legal and technical spheres, Asela works to bring Cyber Security essentials to society.

MPP (National University of Singapore), BSc (University of London)

Gayani is a Senior Research Manager at LIRNEasia. In her work, she has led mixed-methods research projects, supported the drafting of national policies and regulations, and facilitated capacity building programmes for the government. Her work lies at the intersection of economic development, policy, and the use of digital technologies, applied in varied areas including poverty and social protection, digital access and use, and digital taxation. She is also currently working as a consultant at the World Bank, with the Digital Development, and Social Protection and Labour practices.

MSc (University of Oxford), BSc (University of London), Bachelor of Laws (Colombo)

Senith is a Research Associate/Programme Manager at Centre for a Smart Future (CSF). Previously he has been a Research  Assistant for International Growth Centre (IGC) and Assistant Analyst at Verité Research. He is a Chevening Scholar.

Bsc (University of East London)

Talal Rafi is an Economist and a Regular Columnist for the International Monetary Fund. He is an Expert Member of the World Economic Forum, and he was a member of the Deloitte Global Economist Network. He is an Economics Fellow at the British think tank Oxford Global Society. He is a Visiting Lecturer at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

BSc (State University of New York), BSc , BA (Cornell University)

Thilan specializes in investment banking and real estate. Thilan was a cofounder of Asia Capital PLC, Sri Lanka’s largest investment bank in the 1990s. Upon exiting his shareholding, he functioned as the youngest ever Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. From 2017 to 2019, Thilan served the Finance Ministry in an honorary capacity as the founding Chairman of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership.

BSc (MIT)

Thulith is a Mechanical Engineer from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and a UWC Atlantic college alumni. He has experience of working in five countries across four continents, in diverse industries such as AI, E-commerce, Education, Renewable energy, Agriculture andeven Biotech. Thulith strives to leverage his diverse expertise for a positive change, and founded and leads Meu Labs which teaches STEM-related programs to teachers and students.

Msc (Colombo) , Bsc (University of London)

Thilina Panduwawala is currently Senior Macroeconomist at Frontier Research, a Colombo based macro-research firm. Previously he was a Consultant to the ADB’s Sri Lanka Resident Mission. He holds a Master of Financial Economics from the University of Colombo and a BSc in International Relations from the University of London International Programmes. His publications have focused on Chinese and Indian lending to Sri Lanka, and ongoing research is focused on Sri Lanka’s sovereign default.

LLB (Colombo), LLM (University of California, Berkeley)

Rohan Edrisinha served as a Senior Political Officer and Constitutional Advisor in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) of the United Nations from March 2016 to December 2023. He served as the constitutional advisor to UNDP Nepal and the head of its constitution support programme from 2011 to 2014. He taught at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo from 1986 to 2011, the Faculty of Law, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, in 1995, and was a visiting fellow at Harvard University (2005) and the University of Toronto (2009). He was a founder Director and Head of the Legal and Constitutional Unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Sri Lanka, from 1996 to 2010.

MPhil (University of Cambridge)

Neema Jayasinghe pursued her bachelor’s in education, Policy, and International Development at the University of Cambridge, followed by an MPhil degree in Education, Globalization, and International Development, also at Cambridge. Currently, she is employed by Cambridge University Press and Assessment, where she focuses on academic textbooks and is undergoing training in educational assessment. In her previous roles, Neema worked as a researcher for Educational Consultancy Jigsaw and the Cambridge Edtech Hub, specializing in impact assessment of Educational Technology. Her contributions earned her the prestigious Cambridge Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Social Impact, which is bestowed upon one master’s student each year.

LLB (Colombo), Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court, CIMA (UK), MBA

Harshana Perera, an accomplished lawyer, management accountant, and educator, embarked on a distinguished career marked by excellence. With expertise in labor law, industrial relations, and HR development, he served as an advisor to numerous organizations and represented Sri Lanka internationally. Transitioning to education, he held leadership roles in prestigious institutions, driving academic and infrastructural advancements. Notably, as Principal of Gateway College Colombo, he fostered a culture of academic excellence and unity. In 2017, he assumed the role of Principal at Asian International School, continuing his legacy of transformative leadership in education.

LL.B (Colombo) , LL.M (Yale Law School) , PhD (Maastricht University)

Dr. Mendis received her LL.B (Hons, First Class) from the University of Colombo and LL.M from Yale Law School and her PhD from Maastricht University, The Netherlands. She is currently reading for an MA in English Studies at the University of Colombo. She was formerly a Senior Lecturer (tenured, permanent post) in the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, where she taught International Law topics for undergraduates and Human Rights topics at the Postgraduate level (2003-2022). Since February 1st 2024, she is the Director/Research at BCIS.

MSc (University of Colorado), BSc Macalester College, USA

As a conservationist, Vinod is interested in the convergence of conservation and responsible development. His primary interests lie in the management of mixed-use landscapes that border the Protected Area network and how local communities, that act as custodians of these lands, can be incorporated into conservation interventions. Vinod is the Executive Director of the Lanka Environment Fund, Co-Founder of The  Parrotfish Collective, a Trustee of the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO) and is on the Panel of Judges for the Chamber of Commerce’s Best Sustainability Awards at its annual Best Corporate Citizen Awards.

PhD, Msc (Washington State University), BSc (Col)

Ananda Mallawatantri is an experienced Sri Lankan professional in project management, multi-sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships, research, education, and sustainable development. Ananda has held notable positions at prestigious organizations such as USAID, serving as Senior Advisor in Environment and Energy and Country Director for USAID/US-Asia Environment Partnership Program in Sri Lanka, and with UNDP Sri Lanka, as Assistant Resident Representative and Team Leader for Environment, Energy, and Disaster Risk Management, in Sri Lanka. He also contributed as the Country Representative for International Union for Conservation of Nature in Sri Lanka. After over 20 years in international development, Dr. Mallawatantri presently serves as the Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka on Environment, Climate Change and Green Finance.

Ph.D. (University of Kalmar, Sweden) , B.Sc Hons (Ruhuna, SL)

Dr Terney Pradeep Kumara is the head of the department at Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology, University of Ruhuna. He hold a Ph.D from University of Kalmar, Sweden and B.Sc (Honors) in Zoology (Ruhuna, SL) . He is PADI certified diver at Dive Master level and an underwater photographer with immense experience exploring reefs.

MBBS (NCMC), MD Medicine (Col.), FRCP (Lon.), FCCP (SL), PGCert (Teaching in HE) (Col.) with SEDA (UK) certificate, PGDip (Appl Sociol) (Col)

Professor Panduka Karunanayake is a specialist in General (Internal) Medicine, with an interest in clinical infectious diseases. He has published original research on leptospirosis, dengue, visceral leishmaniasis, and brucellosis. Panduka is a SEDA Recognised Teacher and has won the Faculty’s Teacher Excellence Award. In the past he has been chairperson of the Infectious & Parasitic Disease Module; secretary of the Curriculum Development & Evaluation Committee; Faculty Student Counsellor; secretary of the board of study in Medicine at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine; coeditor of University of Colombo Review; and director of the University of Colombo Staff Development Centre.

B.Sc. (Hons), M. Sc. (USJ), Ph.D. (Wales), C. I. Biol. (Sri Lanka)

With over 20 years of experience as a Chartered Environmental Professional, she has contributed as a Consultant, Researcher, and Trainer in Ontario and globally. Her extensive work spans various countries, collaborating with prestigious international organizations like the World Bank and the United Nations. Leading diverse teams, she has conducted environmental assessments across a spectrum of projects including transportation, water supply, renewable energy, and forestry. Certified in ISO 14001 and FSC auditing, her expertise encompasses Environmental Impact and Site Assessments, Ecological Impact, Water Management, and Climate Change. Recognized as the ‘Professional Woman of the Year 2000’ by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, she bridges academia and industry to foster sustainable practices and drive business growth through environmental stewardship

MA (New York University), BA (Ithaca College)

Johann Peiris is a sociologist, researcher and musician. He received his BA from Ithaca College and MA in Sociology of Education from New York University. Equipped with 8 years of involvement with historyrelated programmes and initiatives, he hopes to continue being actively engaged in platforms that allow critical dialogue on history and memory. He currently oversees the work areas of education at the Collective for Historical Dialogue and Memory (CHDM). In addition to his work on history, he is a frequent performer with the Chamber Music Society of Colombo.

M.B.B.S, M.Sc (Medical Administration), MBA.

Hospital and Healthcare System Management Specialist with extensive expertise in both public and private sectors in Sri Lanka and international healthcare systems. Skilled in healthcare strategy planning, health system financing, and revenue cycle management. A leader in healthcare management system transformation, digital innovation, and cost optimization, with certification as an International Hospital Accreditation Assessor and proficiency in human resources planning and development.

BSc Eng (hons) University of Peradeniya

As a former engineer and as the current president of Bioenergy Association of Sri Lanka, Mr. Jayasignhe supports EFL with projects related to bioenergy. His projects at the moment involves development of bio mass, engineering design and installation of steam turbine power generation system and help design fabrication and installation of coir fibre pith screening, drying and briquetting and other processing machinery.

BSc Eng (hons) University of Peradeniya

Dr. Ragel is a distinguished Professor in Computer Engineering at the University of Peradeniya, appointed as a Senior Lecturer in 2007 and promoted to Professor in 2017. A Professional Member of IEEE and ACM, he has co-authored nearly 200 peer-reviewed articles spanning topics like Systems on Chip, IoT, Bioinformatics, Wearable Computing, and Local Language Text Digitization.

BA (University of Moratuwa), MBA (Asian Institute of Technology)

Mr. Piyal Hennayake, a seasoned visiting lecturer and consultant, has enriched minds at two prestigious Sri Lankan universities for over two decades. With 23 years of senior management experience in premier banks, he excels in areas like Project Finance, Branch Network Management, and Facilities Management. Renowned for his friendly, confident demeanor and innovative approach, Mr. Piyal has made significant voluntary contributions to the banking community, serving as President of the Association of Professional Bankers, Sri Lanka in 2014/15.

PHD, MBA, MSC, MD

Chair Professor of Dental Public Health at the University of Peradeniya, with over 12 years as a senior lecturer in Health Sciences and 25 years at the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka, including leadership as Head of the Health Human Resource Division. Holds a PhD in Health Care Management from the University of Southampton UK, alongside an MBA, MSc., and MD in Public Dental Health. A Chartered Banker and Health Finance Consultant known for exceptional communication, interpersonal, and academic prowess

LLB, MPhil, Ph.D. in Law

Prof. Wijeyesekera is a Chair Professor of Private and Comparative Law at the University of Colombo, specializing in Family Law, Children’s Rights, and Gender studies. She has led numerous initiatives on women’s empowerment and legal reforms, earning the Senate Award for Research Excellence in 2017. She has been a Consultant to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Women and Gender, Parliament of Sri Lanka, and has served in several Law Reform Committees at national level, including the Advisory Committee on reforming the Adoption and Foster care Law reform, Law Reform Committee (Children-definitions) both of which she headed, and Family Law Reform Committee and National the Committee which recommended the introduction of law to the national school curriculum.

CFA

Travis is currently an associate director of Uzabase Inc. where he leads the custom research function of the SPEEDA Edge platform, where he delivers besoke research on emerging technologies and manages a team of analysts oversseing a range of industries including Generative AI, Marketing & Sales, and workplace automation. Travis previously managed the new curation and sector research team at Frontier Research (Pvt) Ltd. Travis is also a Director and office bearer of the CFA Society of Sri Lanka and leads the CFA Society Candidate Outreach initiative. Under Travis’s leadership, in 2021 the Candidate Council won the Impact and Innovations award, a global award which recognizes innovation and excellence conferred by the CFA Institute. Travis also became the first Sri Lankan CFA Charter holder to win the CFA Institute’s Outstanding Young Leader award in 2022.