Who We Are
About NIA
National Innovation Agency
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) was established by the Parliamentary Act, No. 22 of 2019, with the aim of coordinating the Ministries, Institutions, and the Private sector for creating, improving, and sustaining a national innovation eco-system and providing support necessary for the relevant innovations from idea to market. This task was previously entrusted to the Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI), which ceased its operations on 31 December 2021. The NIA took over, absorbing the human, physical and financial resources and other assets of COSTI, as per the Cabinet Decision taken on 08.03.2021 (CP No. 21/0388/308/021).
Accordingly, NIA became operational on 29.11.2021, with the Steering Council of NIA holding its first meeting.
The Agency operates under the purview of the Ministry of Education.
Our Steering Council
Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake
Secretary to the President
Chairperson
Dr Sankalpa Gamwarige
Nagarro
Appointed Member
Eng. Capt. Udaya Dampage
Kothalawala Defence University
Appointed Member
Eng. Heminda Jayaweera
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Appointed Member
Prof S. Senaweera
Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology
(SLINtec)
Prof Veranja Karunarathna
Commissioner, Sri Lanka Inventors Commission
Mrs. M.M.G.K. Meegahakotuwa
Director General, (Planning) Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation Division, Ministry of Education
Mrs Himali Hettihelage
DG, National Intellectual Property Office
Ms Shiranthi Rathnayake
Aditional Director General, NPD, Ministry of Finance – Ex-officio Member
Ms Ashika Gunasena Serasundera
Chief Executive Officer, Founding Director, Chrysalis – Appointed Member
Ms Anisha Gooneratne
Researcher and Strategist in Technology and Innovation, Centre for a Smart Future
Appointed Member
Ms Gilma Dahanayake
Additional Secretary
( Trade and Research )
Ministry of trade, commerce, food security and co-operative development
Mrs Rekha Mallikarachchi
Department of commerce
Ms Apsara Caldera
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education Ex-Officio Member
Dr Muditha D Senarath Yapa
Chief innovation officer
Our Team
Dr Sachie Panawala
Additional Chief INNOVATION OFFICER
Vindya Wijesinghe
Senior INNOVATION OFFICER
(Tech Transfer)
Thidasi Dahanayaka
Senior INNOVATION OFFICER
(Science Technology & Eco)
Navodi Wickramasinghe
Senior INNOVATION OFFICER
(Social & Services)
Nusaike Mufthie
Innovation Officer/Deputy Director
Layanthini Somasundaram
Innovation Officer/Deputy Director
Pooja Malavisooriya
DePUTY Director
HR
Iresha Weerasinghe
Accountant
Shanika Abeyratne
Management Assistant Technical
Salika Peiris
Management Assistant
Jayani Wickramaarachchi
Management Assistant
Vagira Perera
board secretary
