Management Team
Dr. Thisara Weerasinghe
Head - Computer Science
Phone
+94 11 732 1000Qualifications
PhD ICT (Management and Science University)
MSc. IT (University of Moratuwa)
BSc. MIS (Hons), (National University of Ireland)
Biography
Mr. Thisara Weerasinghe is a lecturer and consultant at the School of Computing and Engineering, National Institute of Business Management (NIBM). He is a member of the British Computing Society and the Computer Society of Sri Lanka. He has introduced several computing courses for the School of Computing and Engineering while directing computing courses from foundation to degree level. He has been lecturing various computing subjects for undergraduate students while supervising numerous undergraduate dissertations.
Also, he worked in the IT industry as a software engineer before joining NIBM as a lecturer/Consultant. Mr. Thisara has participated in several training programs conducted by well-known international universities such as University College Dublin Ireland, University Technology Malaysia, Coventry University UK. In addition, he has represented several interview panels of public and private organizations in Sri Lanka for IT recruitments.
Teaching Areas
- Computer Programming
- Object-Oriented Concept and Applications
- Database Developments
- Software Engineering
- Mobile Application Developments
- Enterprise Applications Developments
- Data Structures and Algorithms
Research Interests & Publications
- Innovation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Internet of Things
- Software applications for new generations
- Modern teaching technologies and assessment criteria
Dr. G. C. Wickramasinghe
Director - School of Computing & Engineering
Phone
+94 11 732 1000Qualifications
MBA in MOT (University of Moratuwa)
MComp (NUS, Singapore)
BEng (Computer Science & Eng) (Bangalore University)
AMIE(SL)
Biography
Dr. G. C. Wickramasinghe started her academic career at NIBM in 1999 by joining the Management Information Systems Division as a Lecturer/Consultant IT. She was the Course Director of several Higher National Diploma, Diploma and Certificate programmes at NIBM before she was appointed Head Computer Science in 2014. Since 2015, she is the Director of School of Computing & Engineering at NIBM.
Dr. Wickramasinghe is a member of the IEEE, an Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka and is also registered as an Associate Engineer in the Engineering Council, Sri Lanka.
Teaching Areas
- Digital Electronics
- Web design and development
- Management of Information Systems
- Database Management Systems
Mr. Bhashitha Prasanga
Coordinator for Certificate Hub
Phone
+94 77 406 1101Qualifications
Master's degree in Computing (Wrexham University, UK)
Professional Certifications
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
Biography
Mr. Bhashitha Prasanga has been serving as a Visiting Lecturer and External Consultant at the School of Computing, National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) since 2017. With over a decade of experience in the IT industry, he currently holds the role of Coordinator for Certificate Hub and continues to contribute as a Visiting Lecturer at NIBM.
Mr. Prasanga possesses strong expertise in Network Engineering and System Administration, with hands-on experience in Linux systems, CISCO, and Microsoft technologies. His areas of specialization include configuring and managing enterprise networks and administering systems with industry-standard tools and platforms.
Areas of Expertise
- Network Engineering
- System Administration
- Linux Systems
- CISCO Technologies
- Microsoft Technologies
- Enterprise Network Configuration
- System Administration with Industry-standard Tools
Instructor Certifications
- Certified Instructor for Cisco Networking Academy (CCAI)
- Certified Instructor for Red Hat Academy
Dr. Gunathilake Tantirigama
Principal Economist / Senior Analyst / Economic Statistician
Academic Qualifications
PhD - Economics, University of Delhi, India (2001)
Thesis Title: Sustainable Coastal Tourism in Hikkaduwa
(Sri Lanka) and Goa (India)
Certificate - CGE Modelling, Recipient of certificate in Computable General Equilibrium Modelling – a five-day intensive course conducted by the Ecomod Modelling Schools at Singapore (2013)
PG Com - Commerce, Lincoln University, New Zealand
(2000)
Modules including: Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis,
Applied Research Methods, and Natural Resource & Energy Economics
MA - Economics, Leuven University, Belgium (1985)
MSc - Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (1982)
PG Dip - Population Studies, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (1980)
PG Dip - Applied Social Statistics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (1979)
BA Honours - Economics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (1975)
Professional Experience
Principal Economist / Senior Analyst / Economic Statistician
As Senior Statistical Analyst/Economic Statistician at Statistics New Zealand successfully leading the team that compiled Tourism Satellite Account to measure economic impacts of tourism in New Zealand, as Principal Economist at New Zealand Ministry of Transport leading a team that engaged in preparing ministerial advises on transport revenue forecasts, sensitivity analysis of transport fee/levy changes, and demand modelling.
Dean / Head of Department / Postgraduate Director / Director of Institute
Administered and provided leadership to the faculty / department / postgraduate programmes / institutes. Experience of planning, working closely with the academic and other departments to coordinates all aspects of teaching, research and academic administration. Established international links with foreign universities, funding arrangements and scholarships. Engaged in recruitment and appointment of academic faculty and non-academic staff, and curricula development and scheduling of academic and professional courses.
Senior Lecturer
Competently teaching Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Managerial Economics and Research Methods to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Author of the textbooks titled: Modern Economic Analysis and Managerial Economics.
Postgraduate Programme Director/Senior Consultant
Playing an integral role by offering support, experience and knowledge to introduce new M.Sc./MBA/PhD programmes. Pioneered a MSc/MBA programme and developed diploma and certificate programmes in management, economics and information technology while focussing on upskilling participants' soft-skills and their employability.
Employment History
Principal Economist
Ministry of Transport, Wellington, New Zealand (2008-2015)
Senior Economic Statistician
Statistics New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand (2003-2008)
Senior Consultant (PhD Management Programme)
Faculty of Management Studies, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (2016-2017)
Pioneering Dean
School of Business, National School of Business Management (NSBM), Sri Lanka (Feb-June 2016)
Lecturer in Economics
University of Canterbury, Canterbury, New Zealand (2003-2008)
Tutor in Economics
Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand (2000)
Senior Lecturer/Head of the Department
Department of Business Administration, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (1985-1999)
Pioneering Programme Director
MSc. Management/MBA Programme, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (1995-1999)
Publications
"Contribution of Transport Productivity to Economic Growth in New Zealand," presented at the International Input Output Association Conference in Alexandria, Washington DC, USA (2011)
"The Tourism Satellite Account in New Zealand," featured as a case study in Tourism Management (Third edition) authored by Stephen J Page, published by Elsevier (2009)
"Economic Impacts of Transport & Tourism in New Zealand: An Input-output Multipliers Approach," presented at the NZAE conference in Wellington (2009)
"Trends in Tourism Expenditure Measured in Volume Terms," poster presented at the NZAE conference in Wellington, winning second prize (2008)
"Measuring Economic Impacts of Tourism In New Zealand," presented at the International Symposium on Measurement and Evaluation in Kuala Lumpur (2005)
"Coastal Environment and Tourism: Can Hikkaduwa Sri Lanka Afford to Clean Up?" presented at the third meeting of the International Society for Ecological Economics held in San Jose, Costa Rica (1997)
"Using Integrated Coastal Management and Economics to Conserve Coastal Tourism Resources in Sri Lanka," published in AMBIO – The Royal Swedish Journal of Human Environment (1997)
"Carrying Capacity and Sustainability of Coastal Tourism in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka and Calangute, India," published in Tropical Coasts - Special Issue on Coastal Tourism, Vol.5, No.1, July 1998, GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Program for the Prevention of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas, Manila, Philippines.
"Significance of Grass-root-level Community Organizations in Poverty Alleviation through Sustainable Agricultural Development: Case of Hanguranketha Division," published as a chapter in "A New Wave of Agricultural Development in Asia," Publication of Faculty of Economics, Saga University, Japan (2000)
Socio-economic Dimensions of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Sri Lanka, Co-author of the Chapter 5 of the book titled: The Economics of HIV and AIDS, The Case of Sri Lanka and South East Asia, Edited by David Bloom and Peter Goodwin, Oxford University Press.
Macro-economic Implications of HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Sri Lanka, Paper presented at 2nd Annual Conference of the West Bengal Sexual Health Project on HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health, held on 26-29, November, 1997, Calcutta, India.
Chapter on Tourism, Arjun's Atlas of Sri Lanka, 1997, Arjuna Consulting Co.Ltd. Colombo, Sri Lanka. (co-authored with Dr. C.K.M.Deheragoda)
A Policy Prescription for Sustainable Tourism in Hikkaduwa, Joint author with Prof.Rashmi Agrawal & Prof. Lallan Prasad of Delhi University. Paper presented at Eighth Sri Lanka Studies Conference held in Jaipur, India, 7 - 10 December 2001.
Residents' Response to Tourism in a Rural Coastal Setting, The paper presented at the Seventh Sri Lanka Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 3 - 6 December, 1999
Eco-tourism and Conservation of Natural Areas in the South East Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, Paper presented at the National Forestry Symposium, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, on 15-16, December, 1995
Analysis of Economic Impact of Tourism with special reference to Implications on Coastal Environmental Resources in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka. The paper presented at Golden Jubilee Session of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), held on19-23, December 1994 at University of Colombo.
Tourism and the Economy of Sri Lanka, Cover page article appeared in Economic Review, August 1994, Economic Research Department of Peoples Bank, Sri Lanka
Analysis of the Factors Influencing Domestic Tourism in Sri Lanka Research Paper Presented at the 1992 Annual Sessions of SLAAS, Colombo.
Multiplier effects of tourism sector of Sri Lanka, Research paper presented at 1993 Annual Sessions of SLAAS, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Carrying Capacity in Coastal Tourism Sites: A Methodological Approach, Paper presented at the Research Sessions 1998 of Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, on 27 March 1998.
Promoting Ecotourism in the South East Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, April 1996, Economic Review, Peoples Bank, Colombo
Analysis of Trade Patterns between Sri Lanka and Newly Industrialized East Asian Countries (NICs), Co-author of the research paper presented at SLAAS Annual Sessions, 1993, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Consultancy Services
Senior Consultant
• Miloda Academy of Financial Studies, Ministry of Finance, Government of Sri Lanka (On-going)
• Ministry of Sports, Government of Sri Lanka
• PhD (Management Programme), Faculty of Management Studies, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (2016-17)
• New Horizons Education Training and Research (New Zealand) Limited
• Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (2017)
Consultant/Subject Matter Expert
• TSA for the Fiji Islands funded by NZAID (2007)
• Conservation of Natural Areas in the South East Dry Zone of Sri Lanka funded by UNDP (1996)
• Coastal Resource Management Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development – USAID (1995)
• Economic Implications of HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka funded by UNDP (1995)
• Ten Year Tourism Master Plan Project funded by the World Tourism Organization – WTO and the UNDP (1992)
• Economic and Financial Performance of Public Manufacturing Enterprises of Sri Lanka funded by the World Bank (1989)
Professional Memberships
MITP-SL - Member of Institute of Town Planners, Sri Lanka
NZAE - Former member of New Zealand Association of Economists
IIOA - Former member of International Input-Output Association
CGENZ - Former Chair of CGE New Zealand Modelling Interest Group
Profile Summary
Dr. Gunathilake Tantirigama is a resourceful academic and practitioner with full of international professional, academic and research experience gained through: working as a senior academic at government, semi-government and private universities; research, publications and presentations in international conferences; postgraduate research supervision; holding academic administrative positions such as Head of Department and Dean of a Faculty; offering postgraduate consultancy services to various universities; holding senior-level positions in various public and corporate sector organizations in Sri Lanka and New Zealand; and providing consultancy services to a number of international bodies such as WHO, WTO, UNDP, World Bank, USAID and NZAID.
He possesses highly successful theoretical and advanced knowledge of applied economics, research methods, public policy, and proven ability of advanced statistical analysis. He is familiar with modelling economic impacts, demand forecasting, Input-Output Analysis and CGE modelling. He has gained experience in use of advanced statistical software such as SAS, E-Views, R, Python and SPSS.
Dr. Tantirigama is an innovative thinker keen to initiate new polices and processes, quick to familiarize himself with the latest technologies and developments. He is a creative leader and a team player capable of showing respect to all individuals and passionate about engaging in advancement of scientific knowledge that requires innovative approaches to apply new ideas, methods and analysis. He has gained a high reputation for "lateral thinking" and out of the box approach to find solutions for controversial contemporary economic issues. He has a great network of academics and professionals.
Additional Contact Information
WhatsApp: +642102264174
Public Profile: LinkedIn Profile
Address: 145 Thissa Mawatha, Bangalawatta, Kottawa, Sri Lanka