Beginning of a New Era at PGIPBS

A New Director for PGIPBS - Snr. Prof. P. R. Wasanta Priyadarshana

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Senior Professor P. R. Wasanta Priyadarshana as the new Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies. He becomes the tenth Director in the fifty-year history of the Institute, founded by the late Ven. Dr. Havenpolola Rathanasara.

The nine previous Directors—late Prof. L. P. N. Perera, late Prof. Jothiya Dheerasekare, late Prof. Sumanapala Galmangoda, Emeritus Prof. Y. Karunadasa, Prof. Thilak Kariyawasam, Emeritus Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne, Senior Prof. Ven. Kotapitiye Rahula, and Senior Prof. Ven. Medawachchiye Dhammajoti—guided the Institute with their vision, commitment, and academic strength. Several contributed significantly to the advancement of global Pali and Buddhist Studies through their scholarly work and supervising hundreds of postgraduands who light up the field of Buddhist studies globally. Others focused on expanding the Institute’s research output. The two most recent Directors devoted considerable effort to securing a permanent home for PGIPBS.

The appointment of the new Director marks a promising phase for the Institute. Current developments in local and international Pali and Buddhist Studies present both opportunities and challenges. We are confident that his academic background, steady leadership, and capacity for thoughtful decision-making will support the Institute’s progress during the next three years.

The presence of distinguished representatives from university departments of Pali and Buddhist Studies across Sri Lanka, together with several former Directors, members of the Management Board, Faculty Board, Academic Committee, the full PGIPBS staff, and both local and international students at the assumption-of-duties ceremony reflects sincere confidence in the Institute’s direction.

We look forward to working collaboratively with the new Director to strengthen all academic and administrative aspects of PGIPBS and to further the shared goals of Pali and Buddhist Studies within Sri Lanka and beyond.