Photograph unveiling ceremony of Senior Professor Nalin Abeysekera at Open Uni.

Monday, 3 November 2025 05:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Senior Professor Nalin Abeysekera

The Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) of The Open University of Sri Lanka will hold the Photograph Unveiling Ceremony of former Dean, Senior Professor Nalin Abeysekera, today from 9.50 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. at the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Management Studies.

The event will be graced by The Open University of Sri Lanka Vice-Chancellor Senior Professor P.M.C. Thilakarathne and will stand as a celebration of transformative leadership and academic excellence.

The ceremony will begin with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp, followed by a welcome address by FMS Dean S.A.D. Senanayake. The highlight of the event will be the unveiling of the photograph of Senior Professor Nalin Abeysekera by the Vice-Chancellor, followed by addresses from both distinguished academics. The proceedings will conclude with a vote of thanks delivered by FMS Assistant Registrar M.P.G. Silva.

During his deanship, Senior Professor Abeysekera led a period of remarkable academic expansion and innovation. Three new degree programs and one revised program were approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and are now successfully operational. In this time, the MSc in Supply Chain and Procurement and the Advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management (ACHRM) were also introduced—both now well established and contributing significantly to national capacity building.

In his time, the Faculty achieved an impressive 70% increase in student enrollment, reflecting the success of new programs, enhanced outreach, and strengthened confidence in OUSL’s management education. A landmark initiative of this period was the creation of the Entrepreneurship Development and Consultancy Unit (EDCU), which has strengthened the link between academia, industry, and government. The strategic partnership with the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) promoted SME development, entrepreneurship education, and research collaboration across the country.

Further, four vibrant student associations—OSSA, AFSA-OUSL, OUMA, and HR-NEST—were established, empowering students with leadership, creativity, and engagement opportunities. In this time, international collaborations expanded through the Progression Link Agreement with the University of Essex, offering OUSL management students access to 17 MSc programs and second-year BSc entry at the Essex Business School. Another major accomplishment was obtaining internal approvals for a new Faculty building project, setting the foundation for future growth and development within the Faculty of Management Studies.

The photograph unveiling ceremony will serve as a fitting tribute to a tenure defined by innovation, integrity, and institutional advancement.

Senior Professor Nalin Abeysekera continues to serve as a Senior Professor, consultant, and corporate trainer in leadership and marketing across several institutions. His dedication to higher education and national development remains unwavering.