Lakmal Gunarathne heads CEMBA/CEMPA Alumni, AGM dedicated to late Snr. Prof. Nalin Abesekara

The Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration and Public Administration (CEMBA/CEMPA) Alumni Association held its eighth Annual General Meeting, where Lakmal Gunarathne was elected President, succeeding outgoing President Yasith De Silva.

The Annual General Meeting was dedicated to the memory of the late Senior Professor Nalin Abesekara, former Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to academia and the alumni community.

A Marketing graduate of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Professor Abesekara was a Chartered Marketer and a member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM). He was widely respected for his scholarly contributions, authoring numerous articles for local and international journals while maintaining a strong presence across print, electronic and social media.

He also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Sri Lanka Journal of Management Studies (SLJMS) and was a reviewer for several international academic journals, earning recognition for his commitment to advancing management education and research.

In his farewell address, outgoing President Yasith De Silva expressed his sincere gratitude to the Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka, Senior Professor P.M.C. Thilakerathna, the academic staff, the executive committee and the alumni membership for their unwavering support and cooperation throughout his tenure.

Reflecting on his leadership journey, De Silva paid tribute to Professor Abesekara, noting that his own path to the presidency was inspired and encouraged by the late academic's mentorship and guidance, a legacy that continues to shape both individuals and the institution.