🎙️ Distinguished Speakers – NILIS Research Symposium 2025
Professor Indika Karunathilake
Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo
Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake is the first Professor of Medical Education at the University of Colombo and a pioneering figure in the Sri Lankan higher education landscape. He is a senior fellow of both the UK Higher Education Academy and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Details.
Professor Eric Steinhauer
Honorary Professor, Humboldt University, Berlin
Director, University Library, FernUniversität in Hagen
A renowned expert in academic copyright law and digital information ethics, Prof. Steinhauer is deeply engaged in the legal transformation of knowledge access in the digital era. Details.
Dr. Muditha Senarath Yapa
Director General, NIRDC
Chief Innovation Officer, NIA, Sri Lanka
Dr. Muditha D. Senarath Yapa is a distinguished scientist and innovation leader. He earned his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Arizona and has led numerous national R&D initiatives. Details.
Dr. M.M. Mashroofa
Senior Assistant Librarian/Science Library, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
Dr. Mashroofa is a seasoned academic librarian with over two decades of service at South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. She has held leadership roles in multiple library sections, teaches information literacy, and has represented Sri Lanka in several international training programmes. She is a Fellow of SLLA and actively contributes to IFLA’s Digital Humanities group. Details.
Dr. Nalaka Lankasena
Senior Lecturer/ Department of Information and Communication Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayawardenepura
Dr. Nalaka Lankasena is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work advances human well-being through innovative technologies. His work brings together fields like computer science, health, and engineering. He develops tools such as robotic arms, systems that can recognize Sinhala handwriting, and technologies that help analyze brain activity during meditation. He also works on improving how organizations use information and communication technologies effectively. Details.