Lankan appointed to ADB’s most senior position in energy sector operations

Dr. Priyantha Wijayatunga, former Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa and founder Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), has been appointed as Senior Director, Energy, Sectors Group, Asian Development Bank (ADB).

He served as Director, South Asia Energy Division of the ADB and Chief of the Energy Sector Group before his elevation to this new position, under the new organisational structure of the ADB, which will come into operation in 2023. This is the most senior position in the ADB energy sector operations and a significant recognition of Dr. Wijayatunga’s long professional career and experience in the energy sector spanning more than 35 years. 
Dr. Wijayatunga earned a Doctorate in Power System Economics from the Imperial College London on a Beit Scientific Research Fellowship in 1992. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Moratuwa, joined the university as an Assistant Lecturer in 1986 and moved up to become a Professor of Electrical Engineering in 2001.  He left the university as a Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering. He was also an Academic Visitor at Imperial College London from 1993-1998. 

During his tenure in the University of Moratuwa while supporting development of university education in various forms, he contributed immensely to the development of energy sector both in Sri Lanka and outside. At the request of the university, he spearheaded the establishment of the Faculty of Information of Technology (IT) at the University of Moratuwa in 2001 and became the first Dean of the Faculty. During this period, as a member of the Standing Committee on IT in the University Grants Commission, he initiated the efforts to expand university IT education for students outside mathematics stream.

Dr. Wijayatunga joined the ADB as an Energy Specialist and later promoted to Senior Energy Specialist, Principal Energy Specialist and then became Director, South Asia Energy Division. Later in August 2021 he was appointed as Chief of the Energy Sector Group of the ADB. He also held the position of Unit Head, Portfolio Management at the ADB Nepal Resident Mission for a short period. During over 35 years of his career in the energy sector, of which 15 years in the ADB, Sri Lanka benefited immensely from his contribution to energy sector development.