Biography

Gihan Wikramanayake is a Science graduate from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and obtained his MSc and PhD in Computer Science from University of Wales Cardiff, UK. He is a Professor, Director and Chairman of the Board of Management of the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC).

Gihan began his career in 1984 at the Computer Centre of the University of Colombo as a trainee programmer, before taking a research assistant post and becoming an Assistant Lecturer of the Department of Statistics and Computer Science in 1985. Thereafter he served as a Programmer-cum-System Analyst for two years and became a Lecturer in 1990 and Senior Lecturer in 1996. Moving to the new Department of Computer Science in 2000 he became its acting Head in 2002. When the UCSC was set up in 2002 he became the first Head of the Department of Information Systems Engineering and subsequently held the post of Deputy Director and Acting Head of Head of the Department of Communication and Media Technologies.

Prof Wikramanayake played the role of the Academic Coordinator of the flagship BIT degree programme for many years from its inception in 2000 until he became the Director (except when on sabbatical leave) and the first Computer Science Special degree Programme at University of Colombo from beginning in 1990 to end in 2004 (except when on study leave).

Gihan initially worked on Statistical Data Processing and moved into managing large databases. For several years he provided the technical assistance to UNICEF Colombo and Male. During the early 1990s while doing his research in the field of databases Gihan spent a lot of his time to provide information of Sri Lankan Cricket via the Internet. His interest in Internet Technologies and his role in the BIT programme lead him to be actively involved in introducing learning technologies into courses offered by UCSC. He has served as a consultant in several world bank and ADB projects. His efforts in many research projects was recognized in 2006 and 2013 when University of Colombo awarded him the Research Award. During 2008-2009, Gihan was a visiting scholar in Sweden at Umeå University and Stockholm University and later at University of New Mexico, USA.

Gihan is a Chartered Fellow and a Council Member of BCS The Chartered Institute for IT, UK and has held positions in professional associations such as Chairman BCS Sri Lanka Section (four years), first Treasurer IEEE Sri Lanka Section and Student Councillor of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL). Gihan is also a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineering (IEEE). Professor Gihan is also a board of director of the Sri Lanka Software Testing Board and Chairman of Theekshana a UCSC Company. He also serves on the Boards of Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB) of the University of Colombo, Staff Development Centre of the University of Colombo & Lanka Education and Research Network (LEARN) and have served on the Board of National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS) of the University of Colombo. He is also a committee member of the Alumni Association of the University of Colombo and an Advisor for National Examinations. He has been the team leader of many national Olympiad teams and is associated with the National / International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), National / International School's Software Competition, National Best Quality ICT Awards (NBQSA), Young Computer Scientist (YCS) and Asia Pacific ICT Awards (APICTA).