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SLTC Council

External members of the Council

Prof. Sharya Scharenguivel Council Member
Sharya Scharenguivel

Prof. Sharya Scharenguivel

Professor Sharya Scharenguivel is currently Emeritus Professor of Law and former Dean, Professor of Law, Head of Department and Head Department of Private and Comparative Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo. She was also the Director of the Human Rights Centre of the University of Colombo).

She has won several scholarships, fellowships and awards including the Benian’s Fellowship at St John’s College Cambridge, the Inns of Court Fellowship and visiting fellowships at Balliol College Oxford and Clare Hall Cambridge. She has being a Board member of several organizations, outside of the University of Colombo including the National Child Protection Authority; the Law Commission. She was a Member of Sectoral Committee on Family Law; the Committee on Muslim Law Reforms, the National Action Plan for Children and currently serves on the National Group of Sri Lanka in the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the Family Law Advisory Committee, She also serves as a Board member of the Law and Society Trust and as a Senior Advisor to Verite Research. She has published two books entitled Marriage Breakdown and the Duty of Support (1984) and Parental and State Responsibility for Children:The Development of South African and Sri Lankan Law (2006) She has also co-authored with Prof Lakshman Marasinghe a book entitled Compilation of Selected Aspects of the Special Laws of Sri Lanka (2015) and has also edited ‘Contract of Employment Cases and Co mmentaries’(.2010) More recently she was co editor of Perspectives of Constitutional Reform in Sri Lanka (2021) with Dr Hiran Jayewardene. She also has over 30 publications in journals, 15 seminar papers and reports, and about 25 guest lectures and presentations to her credit.
Prof. Nalin Wickramarachchi Council Member
Nalin Wickramarachchi

Prof. Nalin Wickramarachchi

Professor Nalin Wickramarachchi earned his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa in 1983, followed by a Master of Science from Imperial College, University of London in 1988. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, Canada in 1994, specializing in Industrial Automation and Intelligent Control Systems. He is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka.

With an academic career spanning over four decades at the University of Moratuwa, Professor Wickramarachchi has held several key leadership positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Head of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, and Director of Quality Assurance for the Faculty of Engineering.

His research portfolio includes extensive work conducted at the University of British Columbia and the University of Melbourne, where he served as a Senior Research Fellow. His scholarly interests and publications cover a wide range of topics, including Control and Automation, Lighting Technology, Energy Efficiency, and Artificial Intelligence.

Professor Wickramarachchi has been recognized for his contributions to scientific research with the President’s Award for Scientific Publications in 2008 and the Outstanding Research Performance Award from the University of Moratuwa.

Eng. Mangala P. B. Yapa Council Member
Mangala P. B. Yapa

Eng. Mangala P. B. Yapa

An accomplished professional with over four decades of experience in strategic positions within both the private and public sectors. Skilled in leading institutional transformations, strategic thinking, complex project management, negotiations and mediation, and public communications.

Private sector: played a pivotal role in the transformation of Colombo Dockyard PLC into a leading international shipyard. Subsequently, held short stints as the Secretary General and CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and later as the Director General and CEO of the Employers Federation of Ceylon.

Public sector: served as the Technical Advisor to the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade of Sri Lanka (2016 to 2019) and as a Member of the Board and subsequently as Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) between March 2016 and November 2019. During this period, engaged in areas of international trade, investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Served on several Boards of State institutions and Cross Functional Task Forces/Committees.

Contribution during Post Economic Recession: between 2021 and 2022, functioned as a Member of the SOE Reforms Units, the Oversight Committee on Investments & Exports, and the Experts Committee on High Impact Fisheries, supporting multi-faceted economic restructuring, on invitation, in a voluntary capacity.

Present Engagements: engaged in various other consulting, visiting lecturer, university council member, and board member roles, including ICLP Institute for Commercial Law and Practice, CCC-ICLP Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, Local branch of the IMarEST (UK) – Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, and the Steering Committee on Public Sector Reforms of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. P.S. Cumaranatunga Council Member
P.S. Cumaranatunga

Mr. P.S. Cumaranatunga

Mr. Palavinnege Sumith Cumaranatunga has been an Independent, Non-Executive Director of Siyapatha Finance PLC since 30th October 2017 and the Chairman of the Company since 12thFebruary 2020.

He officiated as the Chairman of the Board Audit Committee, the Board Human Resources & Remuneration Committee, the Board Nomination Committee, the Board Related Party Transactions Review Committee and the Board Information Technology Committee, mostly prior to becoming the Chairman of Siyapatha Finance PLC. He was also a Member of the Board Integrated Risk Management Committee, the Board Corporate Governance Committee and the Board Credit Committee.

Mr. P. S. Cumaranatunga was formerly Chairman & Managing Director of the David Pieris Group of Companies, where he served for 30 years and 9 months – 24 years as a Director and 2 years prior to that as General Manager. He retired as Chairman on 31st March 2016, having joined as Accountant on 01st July 1985.

During this tenure, the organisation transformed from a relatively small business unit in a single location with a turnover of Rs 43.3 million and a net profit of Rs 311,000 in 1985/86, to one of the most profitable, professionally managed conglomerates in Sri Lanka, with a turnover of Rs 86.2 billion and a net profit of Rs 11.1 billion in 2015/16, an island-wide reach and a consistent track record of exceptional performance, successfully overcoming numerous challenges. The David Pieris Group of Companies was at the forefront of automotive, financial services, information technology and logistics businesses, with industry leadership in many spheres, breaching Rs 10 billion in net profit thrice in five years, from 2011/12 to 2015/16.

He also served as Chairman of Assetline Leasing Company from 12th October 2010 to 01st April 2015, during which period the Company was among the most profitable entities in the finance leasing industry.

Mr. Cumaranatunga is a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA CGMA), a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (DipM MCIM).

Presently, he serves as the Chairman of Suvimie Associates, a Company engaged in global trading, sustainable energy and plantations.

Mr. Dinesh de Zoysa Director
Dinesh de Zoysa

Mr. Dinesh de Zoysa

Mr. Dinesh de Zoysa serves as the Managing Director of  Associated Electrical Corporation Limited (AEC). He currently serves as the Chairman of Capital Alliance Group  and serves as a non-executive board member of listed and  unlisted companies across risk and insurance solutions, hotel  management and travel, real estate development, HR  transformation and consulting in a career spanning over 30  years. He is also Managing Trustee and board member of Musaeus  College, Colombo. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Finance  and IT) from the University of Technology, Sydney, and an MSc  in Insurance and Sustainable Risk Management from Glasgow  Caledonian University, London
Mr. Chanaka Wickramasuriya Director
Chanaka Wickramasuriya

Mr. Chanaka Wickramasuriya

Mr. Chanaka Wickramasuriya is currently an Independent Consultant and sits as a director on the board of multiple public and private entities. He has formerly held roles as the Chief of Party of the USAID Sri Lanka Energy Program, Country Head of Fitch Ratings and as Managing Partner of many Private Equity funds. He has a BSc in Computer and Electrical Engineering and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Internal members of the Council

Prof. Chandrika Wijeyaratne Vice Chancellor – Chairperson of the Council
Chandrika Wijeyaratne

Prof. Chandrika Wijeyaratne

Professor Chandrika N. Wijeyaratne is a renowned academic and medical professional, currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of Sri Lanka Technology Campus, Sri Lanka’s pioneering corporate-funded, residential private research university. With over three decades of experience in academia, research, and leadership, she brings visionary direction to Sri Lanka Technology Campus. Previously, she served as the 18th Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo (2019–2022), becoming the third academic from its Faculty of Medicine to hold this prestigious position. An alumna of the University of Colombo, she holds MBBS with Second Class (Upper) Honours, MD in Internal Medicine, and Doctor of Medicine by Research. In 2010, she was appointed Senior Professor in Reproductive Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Professor Wijeyaratne is recognized for her pioneering work in endocrinology and women’s health in South Asia. She was Sri Lanka’s first academic endocrinologist and has made impactful contributions to managing PCOS and gestational diabetes in resource-limited settings. Her work earned international acclaim, including the prestigious Laureate Award for International Excellence from the Endocrine Society (USA) in 2017. She has authored over 100 publications in leading journals such as The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine, while also supervising numerous postgraduate theses. She has played a key role in national health initiatives like the NIROGI Lanka project. As the third Vice Chancellor of SLTC, she is committed to fostering a strong research culture, experiential learning, and producing globally minded, work-ready graduates. Her guiding philosophy is to “think locally, act globally” as she works to uplift the impact of higher education in Sri Lanka.
Prof. Hilary Silva Dean – Faculty of Business Management
Hilary Silva

Prof. Hilary Silva

Dr. Sanika Wijayasekara Dean – Faculty of Computing & IT
Sanika Wijayasekara

Dr. Sanika Wijayasekara

Dr. Sanika Wijayasekara is the Dean of the Faculty of Computing and a Senior Lecturer Grade I in Data Science at SLTC Research University, Padukka. Her research focuses on wireless communication, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), UAV path planning using Integer Linear Programming (ILP), cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and multi-access collision avoidance, with a particular emphasis on integrating machine learning with optimization techniques for enhanced efficiency in UAV systems and cybersecurity applications. She has received multiple research grants and fellowships, including the SLIIT Research Grant (2024-2025) for her work on adaptive optimization in multi-UAV systems, the Ratchadapisek Somphot Fund for Postdoctoral Fellowship at Chulalongkorn University, and the Overseas Research Experience Scholarship to serve as a Research Visiting Student at National Taiwan University (NTU), Taiwan, in the Mobile Networks and Wireless Communications (TONIC) Research Group. Dr. Wijayasekara earned her PhD in Telecommunication Networking and Systems from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (2015–2019), where she conducted research on a tree-based collision resolution algorithm for RFID using Bayesian tag estimation under the supervision of Professor Lunchakorn Wuttisittikulkij. She also holds an M.Sc. in Telecommunications from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand (2011–2012), where she worked on a cross-layer design approach in OLSR MANET using BER and weighted connectivity index, and a BSc (Hons) in Information Technology, specializing in Computer Systems and Networking, from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) (2006–2009), graduating with First-Class Honours. Prior to her current role, she served as an Assistant Professor in Computer Systems Engineering and Programme Coordinator of the Computer Systems Engineering Degree Programme at SLIIT, a University Associate at Curtin University Australia, affiliated with Curtin Colombo, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Chulalongkorn University. She was also a Senior Lecturer Grade II at General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University (KDU) attached to Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka.
Prof. Saman Jayaweera Bandara Dean – Faculty of Engineering
Saman Jayaweera Bandara

Prof. Saman Jayaweera Bandara

Professor Saman J. Bandara is a senior academic, transport specialist, and policy advisor with over four decades of experience in transportation engineering, logistics management, research, and higher education development.

He holds a Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering from the University of Calgary, Canada, specialising in Airport Planning, and a B.Sc. (Honours) in Civil Engineering from the University of Moratuwa. Over his academic career, Professor Bandara has held several senior leadership positions at the University of Moratuwa, including Founding Head of the Department of Transport and Logistics Management, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, First Director of Undergraduate Studies, Faculty of Engineering, and Director of the Centre for Intelligent Transport Systems.

At the national level, Professor Bandara has made significant contributions to transport policy and infrastructure development in Sri Lanka. He has served as Chairman of the Road Development Authority and as a board member of key national transport institutions, contributing to strategic initiatives in road development, public transport, logistics, and sustainable mobility.

Professor Bandara is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He has provided professional leadership as Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Sri Lanka) and has served as President of the Sri Lanka Evaluation Association and the Highway Engineering Society. He has also contributed to numerous expert committees on transport planning, road safety, airport development, and infrastructure evaluation.

His research interests include traffic engineering, public and freight transport, intelligent transport systems, airport and road planning, monitoring & evaluation and environmental impact assessment. He is a co-developer of the UniRoad Traffic Signal System.
Dr. Lakshitha Pahalagedara Dean – Postgraduate Studies and Research/ Head – International Affairs and Grants
Lakshitha Pahalagedara

Dr. Lakshitha Pahalagedara

Dr. Pahalagedara is a strategic innovation leader and a researcher with over 12 years of experience in academic & industrial R&D. He obtained his PhD from the University of Connecticut (UCONN), USA and BSc (Hons) special degree in Chemistry from the University of Peradeniya. Dr. Pahalagedara has experience in developing novel technologies in the areas of energy, materials science, and sustainability and has worked with world-renowned companies such as Exxon Mobil, Corning Incorporated, and the US Department of Energy during his postgraduate studies. Dr. Pahalagedara has a proven track record in scientific R&D with over 1200 citations and is an inventor of two US patents. He is also an expert in strategizing business models to create an innovation eco-system integrating science, technology, and commercialization. Before joining SLTC Research University Dr. Pahalagedara worked as a Senior Manager at the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) and currently serves as a member of the Board of Study of the Postgraduate Institute of Science at the University of Peradeniya.
Prof. Wipula Yapa Dean – Faculty of Science
Wipula Yapa

Prof. Wipula Yapa

Prof. Wipula Bandara Yapa is a distinguished academic, ecologist, and institutional leader with over 30 years of experience in higher education, scientific research, and quality assurance. He has held prominent roles including Professor of Zoology and Director of Quality Assurance at the University of Colombo, where he spearheaded institutional and program reviews, shaped academic policy, and mentored both faculty and students. His research encompasses behavioural ecology, taxonomy, conservation biology, acoustic communication and One Health approaches to emerging infectious diseases, with a particular emphasis on bat ecology and zoonotic pathogens. Currently, Prof. Yapa serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at SLTC and as Consultant Ecologist for the IDEANet Project at the University of Colombo collaborating with international partners such as the Robert Koch Institute in Germany. He has been awarded numerous fellowships and research grants, supervised postgraduate scholars, and contributed significantly to national biodiversity assessments and conservation strategies. As a Chartered Biologist and former President of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka, Prof. Wipula Yapa continues to be a leading voice in ecological research and the advancement of tertiary education.
Dr. Migara Karunarathne Dean – Faculty of Technology
Migara Karunarathne

Dr. Migara Karunarathne

Dr Karunarathne is a senior lecturer at SLTC and currently working as the acting Dean in the faculty of technology. Dr. Karunarathne has received his B.Sc and MSc from university of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, 2009 and 2021 respectively. and his Ph.D from Sungkyunkwan university in South Korea in 2018. He is currently working as a senior lecturer in Sri Lanka Technological Campus. His research interests include study on liquid crystal materials and display optics, Dye sensitized solar cells, Waste management, Optoelectronics and Photonics, Sensor materials and Sensor arrays, Energy harvesting, instrument automation and design. He has completed several high level publications including a publication in physics review letters. He has completed several projects during his PhD with Samsung Display and Merck Korea. He has won several research awards for his work including a president’s award in 2014. ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1946-8415
Dr. Deepika Priyadarshani Head of CQA (Center for Quality Assurance)
Deepika Priyadarshani

Dr. Deepika Priyadarshani

Dr. W.M. Deepika Priyadarshani is a distinguished Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biosystems and Biotechnology at Sri Lanka Technological Campus with over 22 years of academic experience. With a profound passion for teaching and a commitment to academic excellence, Dr. Deepika has played an integral role in shaping the educational landscape at the Department shouldering the responsibilities as the Head of the Department. Dr. Deepika earned her doctoral degree in Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. She holds a master’s degree in Postharvest Technology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Beyond her classroom and research endeavors, Dr. Deepika serves as Head of Quality Assurance, further enriching the academic community through her leadership and expertise.
Ms. Pradeepa De Silva Registrar
Pradeepa De Silva

Ms. Pradeepa De Silva