NDB Bank and University of Moratuwa appoint Sri Lanka’s 1st Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship

NDB Bank, together with the University of Moratuwa, announces the appointment of Professor A. K. W. Jayawardane as the ‘NDB Bank Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship’.  The first of its kind; this initiative is in line with NDB Bank’s vision of encouraging an entrepreneurial culture and empowering youth by bridging the gap between academia and industry in order to build a nation of ‘Job Creators’ against ‘Job Seekers’.  

The ‘NDB Bank Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship’ will primarily support invaluable research that will lay the foundation for an entrepreneurial culture.  Additionally, a viable minor in Entrepreneurship in the BSc Engineering degree curricular with teaching material, publications in internationally recognised journals, books, monographs and research reports, securing of research and scholarship awards for post graduate students, participation in national and international research collaborations,   and promoting entrepreneurs will take place among others, through this pioneering initiative.  It will also pave the way for youth to create job opportunities not only for themselves but for many others as well through an entrepreneurial culture; becoming a catalyst to drive and create better employment opportunities for a new generation.  

Prior to his appointment as NDB Bank Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship, Prof. Ananda Jayawardane was the Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. He has served as the first Head of Department of Management of Technology, Head, Department of Civil Engineering and as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the same University. Prof. Ananda Jayawardane is also the President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka and has served in the Council of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka for over 10 years.

During his tenure as the first Head, Department of Management of Technology he commenced the first ever MBA course at the University of Moratuwa in the area of Management of Technology.

In addition to his services to University, he served as a member of the Council of the National Institute of Education, Sri Lanka, a member of the Board of Management of the Institute for Construction Training and Development, a member of the Governing Board of the State Engineering Corporation, and a member of the Board of Management of the Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa.  Currently, he is a member of the Board of Management of the Post-graduate Institute of Technology and the National Science Foundation.  He has obtained BSc Engineering degree with first class honours from the University of Moratuwa, a Master of Science Degree in Construction from the Loughborough University of Technology in the UK, and a PhD in Construction Management from the same university. Prof. Jayawardane is also a Chartered Engineer, International Professional Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka.

The University of Moratuwa is an internationally recognised seat of learning and research-led institution that excels at knowledge creation and transfer, and offers a world-class education to the most talented students in Sri Lanka.   Sustainability sits at the heart of our business strategy with the purpose of driving values over the longer term.  NDB Bank has over the years partnered many success stories of Sri Lanka and firmly believes that an entrepreneurial culture is essential for the sustainable development of a nation.   Entrepreneurial capabilities of the Sri Lankan youth have proven vital in a post-conflict era and NDB Bank remains committed to empowering the development of entrepreneurial capabilities in people while partnering with them for their funding requirements.