Prof. W. Hilary E. Silva is a seasoned academic and higher education administrator with nearly four decades of distinguished service in the sector. Prof. Hilary obtained his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree with First Class Honours from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. As a recipient of the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship, he pursued his postgraduate studies at Lancaster University, United Kingdom, where he earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Analysis with Merit and a Master’s Degree in Accounting and Finance. He later completed his doctoral studies at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, with the Ph.D. awarded by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Since 1986, Prof. Hilary has held a range of senior academic and administrative roles, including Head of Department, Dean of the Faculty of Management, Head of School, and Director General. He has also served as Chair and Member of various academic and professional boards in both public and private sector institutions.
His research interests lie in the areas of management accounting practices, management controls, and innovations in both public and private sector organizations. Over the course of his career, he has successfully supervised three doctoral theses and over fifty master level dissertations, with several more currently under his supervision.
Prof. Hilary remains deeply committed to teaching, research, and academic leadership, continuing to make significant contributions to the advancement of higher education in Sri Lanka and beyond.