Newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon.Vijitha Herath assumed duties at the Ministry on 25 September 2024. As a Member of Parliament, Minister Herath has represented the Gampaha District since 2000. He had also previously served as the Minister of Cultural Affairs & National Heritage. Minister Herath holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kelaniya.
Rear Admiral YN Jayarathna was the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy and concurrently holding the appointments as the Chief Hydrographer of the Navy and the Joint Chief Hydrographer to the Government of Sri Lanka.
He is an International Hydrographic Organization’s Category A qualified Hydrographer with vast knowledge on oceanographic affairs around the island nation. As the Chief Hydrographer he initiated Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) architecture and was instrumental in setting up the Mean Sea Level (MSI) for Sri Lanka. He holds a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and another Masters in Hydrography from University of Goa, India.
He retired after 35+ years of illustrious and unblemished service in the Sri Lanka Navy on 21st June 2022 on reaching mandatory retirement age of 55 years. During his career He has held the appointments of Director General Operations, Director General Training and Deputy Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard managing Tsunami in 2004 and Maritime Disasters. Further he represented the Government in Sethusamudram Expert Committee and was a member in the DEOCOM project which prepared the claim for Outer Continental Margin for Sri Lanka.
He is presently on contract with the UN as an International Consultant for Undersea Cables lectures widely on Maritime Security and Ocean Affairs.
Imran advises Boards and CEOs on Strategy, Market Expansion as well as Geo Political, Economic, Climate and Technology Risk Management. Currently serving as CEO of Tresync, Australia; Imran is passionate about one thing - fostering collaboration. This is evidenced by his achievements in Senior management and Board Directorship roles in industries such as Finance, Health, Food, Retail, Regulatory and Industry Bodies, IT/GBS, Education, Commodities, Media, and Professional Services in the Asia-Pacific region. Imran is Senior Independent Director of Asiri Health PLC and Asiri Surgical Hospital PLC. He is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Odel PLC, Maharaja Foods PLC and a member of the Board of Management of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute and an Executive Committee member of The Interfaith Network (IFN), City of Greater Dandenong, Australia. He also served as the CEO of the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies and the Sri Lanka Press Institute. Imran is a Fellow of CPA Australia, CIMA UK, has an MBA from Australia, and a BA (Hons) Sustainable Performance Management from the UK.
Dr. T.D.K.D. Tennakoon is a civil and ocean engineer with extensive experience in oceanography, wave energy research, and marine science management. He has served as Director General of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Head of its Oceanography Division, and National Representative to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO–IOC). A Ph.D. graduate of Moscow State Civil Engineering University, Dr. Tennakoon has contributed to multiple international collaborations in ocean science and technology and has authored key national initiatives including the Oceanography Chapter of the National Atlas of Sri Lanka. His professional interests span ocean wave energy, innovation, and sustainable development.
Professor R.A. Seetha P. Bandara is a distinguished scholar and economist with extensive expertise in poverty, migration, trade liberalization, and economic modeling. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLF) — a premier national institution dedicated to leadership development, civic education, and social transformation — operating under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media. In addition, she is a Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and a member of the National People’s Power (NPP) Economic Council. Her professional journey reflects an exceptional blend of academic rigor, research excellence, and public policy leadership. Professor Bandara earned her B.A. (Honours) in Economics with First Class from the University of Kelaniya in 1997. She obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Statistics from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura in 2005 and a Master of Social Sciences (MSSc) in Economics from the University of Kelaniya in 2006. She further expanded her academic credentials internationally, earning an M.A. in International Relations from Waseda University, Japan (2008) and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Waikato, New Zealand (2015). Throughout her distinguished career, Professor Bandara has held several key academic and administrative positions, including Coordinator of the MA/MSSc Economics Program and Deputy Director of Training at the Centre for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE) at the University of Kelaniya. She has also been an active member of the Curriculum Revision Committee of the Faculty of Social Sciences, contributing to academic innovation and reform. Her research portfolio is rich and multidisciplinary. Her doctoral research examined the poverty impacts of agricultural trade liberalization in Sri Lanka, while her master’s dissertation focused on foreign direct investment and export-led growth. Over the years, she has produced numerous publications in reputed academic journals and contributed to national and international research forums on poverty dynamics, labor migration, and trade policy. Professor Bandara has represented Sri Lanka at various international conferences, symposiums, and policy dialogues, where she has shared insights into economic modeling, sustainable development, and global trade. As a supervisor and examiner of PhD and MPhil candidates, she continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of economists and policy professionals in Sri Lanka. In addition to her academic excellence, Professor Bandara serves on several key national boards and advisory councils, including the National Education Commission, the Consumer Affairs Authority, the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, and the National Institute of Labour Studies. Professor Bandara’s unwavering dedication to economic research, good governance, and institutional excellence underscores her reputation as a transformative leader. Her work continues to bridge the gap between academia, policymaking, and national development, making her a prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s intellectual and socio-economic landscape.
A journalist / media academic from Sri Lanka with wide experience on media development in Asia and Africa. Working experience in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Cambpodia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s first Ph.D in News Journalism with a research on reporting ethnicity in vernacular press (2013). Team member of the Oxford University Media Policy Summer Institute, Jesus College. Reuter Fellow, Green College, Oxford University.(2000). Author of the book Combating Terrorism and Negotiating Peace - Case studies, Northern Ireland and Sri Lankan peace processes. Master Degree in Information Management, with International Political Economy as Co-course, Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (2004). Masters Research Study conducted at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2003). Bachelor of Science (Mathematics), The Open University of Sri Lanka (2001). Diploma in News Agency Journalism, Indian Institute of Mass Communications, New Delhi (1995). Reuters Training on International News Writing, Reuters Headquarters, London (1998) and UN training on Reporting UN and International Affairs, UN Headquarters, New York (1999). Author of the publication ‘LTTE and IRA – Combating Terrorism and Discussing Peace.’ Former spokesman to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka. Former Counsellor (Information), Sri Lanka High Commission, Kuala Lumpur. Visiting Lecturer, Journalism and Mass Communication Department, Sri Jayawardhanapura University and Visiting Lecturer, Journalism Department, Colombo University. Special interest in Terrorism and Political Violence, International Relations, media studies and globalization, media policy and regulations, media safety and democratic transition.
S.H. Nimal Kumar is a seasoned public health professional and humanitarian leader with extensive experience in disaster management, emergency response, and community development. With a career spanning over three decades, he has held key leadership roles in the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, including National Secretary and Chairman of its global coordination platforms, overseeing large-scale relief operations such as tsunami recovery programmes.
He has completed advanced international training in health emergencies, humanitarian response, and delegate leadership, including courses conducted by the ICRC, UNHCR, and the U.S. Army Medical Command. Currently, he chairs Red Cross Consultancy Services (RCCS), REDMO, and Water Filters (Pvt) Ltd, contributing to sustainable humanitarian and public health initiatives across Sri Lanka.
Nimal Kumar’s expertise bridges public health, disaster relief, and organizational governance, reflecting a lifelong commitment to improving community resilience and global humanitarian collaboration.
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A think tank engaging in independent research of Sri Lanka’s international relations and strategic interests, to provide insights and recommendations that advance justice, peace, prosperity, and sustainability.
