Vipula Wanigasekera

Vipula Wanigasekerais a former Sri Lankan Diplomat and Public Official who has held senior roles in the country’s tourism sector. He served as the Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, both under the Ministry of Tourism.[1][2][3][4] He has later pursued academic, journalistic, and spiritual interests and is currently an Author, Academic and Healer [5][6][7]. University of Kelaniya, Open University of Sri Lanka, Plymouth University, UK and Edith Cowan University, Perth/Sri Lanka.[8][9][10]

Education and career

Wanigasekera was educated at Royal College Colombo [11] holds CIM (UK),[12] an MBA from the PIM - University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and PhD in philosophy from IIC University of Technology [13] He has also received training in Carnatic vocal music at the Institute of Fine Arts, London .[14]

Career

Wanigasekera began his professional career in the private sector, working with international firms including Hecht Heyworth & Alcan (UK), and Deldem Group (Hong Kong) before becoming Director of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board[15] in the early 90s. In 1996, he was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and appointed to diplomatic missions in Malaysia as Counsellor and Norway as head of the Mission. In 1999, he became Sri Lanka’s first envoy to Norway ( Consul General in Oslo ) and established the country’s diplomatic presence in Norway.[16][17] Later in Sri Lanka, he held the position of CEO, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau [18][19][20] from 2005 to 2016 with nearly three-year concurrent post as Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority from 2011 to 2013,[21][22][23][24][25] both under the Ministry of Tourism.[26] He entered academia full time in 2016[27] serving Plymouth University UK and Edith Cowan University, Perth. His PhD is in Spiritual tourism in relation to Buddhist philosophy and modern non dual concept. Following the launch of his book Pointers to Enlightenment he began to offer meditation and healing sessions for spiritual seekers based on Non dual and Buddhist teachings.[28][29]

Wanigasekera is a regular author for Colombo Telegraph [10] , Advisor to ZeroPlastic Movement[30] and presenter of the weekly Video cast ' Business in 5ive Minutes' on LinkedIn [31]. He has published a book Pointers to Enlightenment and embarked on spiritual work offering meditation and Reiki healing sessions specially for tourists visiting Sri Lanka. He later extended this service to other countries including Australia.[32][33][34][35]

Wanigasekera has been featured as a resource person in spiritual discussions on Buddhist and Eye TV channels. His current you-tubing on spirituality and Reiki healing is attracting a sizable number while he is being subject to criticism by some traditional Buddhists.[36][37][38]

Research

  • An Analytical Study of Modern Non-Duality Concept with special reference early Buddhist Discourses and their impact on spiritual tourism PhD Thesis.[39]
  • Anatomy of Terrorism and Political Violence in South Asia –IDA Journal November 2006 - IDA Paper P-4163 Log: H 06-001530 Online - Management of the Tamil Diaspora–LTTE's primary function abroad[40]
  • Behavioral Aspects in Multifaceted Armed Conflicts and their Implications – Sri Lankan Case[41]
  • Overcoming Cross-Cultural Differences in Postwar Sri Lanka: The Case of Jetwing-Jaffna[42]
  • Pointers to Enlightenment: Truth is Simple[43]
  • Dabbling with the Devil [44]
  • Increasing Propensity for Corporates to Move Beyond CSR – Case of Zeroplastic Movement [45]
  • Futility Of Academic Business Research In ‘Real’ Business [46]

Controversies

Wanigsekera's socio political and economic articles in newspapers, Youtube interviews[47][48][49] TV interviews on spirituality, involvement in music,[50] his book Dabbling with the Devil[51] and his research on various topics, have raised questions as to whether his active multifaceted role in society as an Author & Business diversifier is conflicting with his work as Meditation teacher and healing therapist.

References

  1. ^ "Tourism personality enters academia". The Sunday times. sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Tourism personality retires to enter academia". www.dailymirror.lk.
  3. ^ "Sri Lanka is gifted with tourist attractions!". www.ft.lk.
  4. ^ "Sri Lankan Peace Talks ââ'¬" V: An Overview of the Third Round".
  5. ^ Weerasooriya, Sahan (3 November 2020). "Power of the unknown". The Island. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Vipula speaks on Lanka's tourism potential". Daily FT. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Cinnamon Wellness Retreat woos body, mind and soul". Daily FT. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  8. ^ "2nd-IRSSB-Conference Proceedings" (PDF). Edith Cowan University. www.ecu.edu.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  9. ^ Wanigasekera, Vipula (July 29, 2025). "The Man In The Small Room: A Norwegian Who Quietly Made A Nation Rich".
  10. ^ a b "Vipula Wanigasekera, Author at Colombo Telegraph".
  11. ^ "Membership – RCCL 72 Group". RCCL 72 Group. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Tourism personality retires to enter academia - Business News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk.
  13. ^ "An Analytical Study of Modern Non-Duality Concept with special reference to the Teachings of early Buddhist Discourses".
  14. ^ "Cover Krishna Bhajan in Malayalam by Vipula W. In Charukesi Raga & Adi Thala Track by Nalin J". YouTube. 7 August 2021.
  15. ^ "WWW Virtual Library - Sri Lanka: Pinnawela". www.lankalibrary.com.
  16. ^ "news07". www.island.lk.
  17. ^ "news07". www.island.lk.
  18. ^ "The Island". www.island.lk.
  19. ^ "MICE tourism gets spotlight in Budget 2016 | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka".
  20. ^ "Sri Lanka Tourism showcase "One Island, Thousand Treasures" at IFTM Travel Fair Paris, France 2015". www.dailymirror.lk.
  21. ^ "Top Olympic official visiting Sri Lanka". www.sundaytimes.lk.
  22. ^ "A bureaucratic viewpoint". www.ft.lk.
  23. ^ "Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority". www.sltda.lk.
  24. ^ Fernando, Jehan. "Sri Lanka wins bid to host PATA". www.srilankanewslive.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
  25. ^ "Sri Lanka eyes conference travellers, India is a key market: official". September 22, 2015.
  26. ^ "Tourism personality enters academia | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka".
  27. ^ "Our Staff". ACBT. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  28. ^ "Nature Meditation at Ahaspokuna". www.ahaspokuna.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  29. ^ "How to develop spiritual tourism". www.ft.lk.
  30. ^ "Zeroplastic Movement named National Winner 2023 Sri Lanka at Energy Globe Award". The Island. Island.lk. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  31. ^ "LinkedIn post". LinkedIn. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Vipula's 'Pointers to Enlightenment' book launch on Tuesday | The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka".
  33. ^ "'Pointers to Enlightenment' A book focused on developing spiritual tourism | Lankians".
  34. ^ "The Island". www.island.lk.
  35. ^ "Vipula launches book on meditation and peace of mind | The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka".
  36. ^ "GRIN - An Analytical Study of the Modern Non-Duality Concept of Modern Spirituality. Teachings of Early Buddhist Discourses". www.grin.com.
  37. ^ "Take a break from the rat race and reenergize your body, mind and soul at the Cinnamon Wellness Retreat". June 11, 2019.
  38. ^ "About – Non Duality and Buddhism". Archived from the original on 2019-06-02. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  39. ^ Vipula Wanigasekera IIC University of Technology. "An Analytical Study of Modern Non-Duality Concept with special reference to the Teachings of early Buddhist Discourses". Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  40. ^ "Info" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  41. ^ "DTIC ADA469835: The Anatomy of Terrorism and Political Violence in South Asia Proceedings of the First Bi-Annual International Symposium of the Center for Asian Terrorism Research (CATR) October 19-21, 2005, Denpensar, Bali, Indonesia". May 1, 2006 – via Internet Archive.
  42. ^ Vipula Wanigasekera. "Overcoming cross-cultural differences in post-war Sri Lanka: the case of Jetwing in Jaffna". Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  43. ^ Wanigasekera (2013). Pointers to Enlightenment. Vipula Wanigasekera. ISBN 978-955-44434-0-2.
  44. ^ Wanigasekera. Dabbling with the Devil. Vipula Wanigasekera. p. 40. ISBN 978-955-44434-1-9.
  45. ^ "First International Research Symposium on Sustainable Business – Proceedings (Page 53)" (PDF). ECU Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  46. ^ "Futility Of Academic Business Research In 'Real' Business". Colombo Telegraph. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  47. ^ "Adapting spirituality to find a blue ocean". www.dailymirror.lk.
  48. ^ "Role of spirituality in management | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka".
  49. ^ "Polity versus bureaucracy in implementation of development work". www.ft.lk.
  50. ^ "Sithijaya Adaraya - Vipula & Resil Wanigasekera - Hiru TV Music Video Downloads". www.hirutv.lk.
  51. ^ "'Dabbling with the Devil' -Released online". The Sunday Times. Sri Lanka. 2 December 2018.
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