Prof. M. Thilakasiri standing outside a contemporary public institution

Public administration · Leadership · Institutional reform

Prof. M. Thilakasiri

Public leadership
focused on lasting impact.

Helping institutions move from complex challenges to clear direction, capable leadership and meaningful public value.

HighFlyer
Chairman
SLIDA
Former Director General
HUST
Visiting Professor

Prof. M. Thilakasiri has spent more than four decades helping public institutions and leaders make better decisions, strengthen capability and deliver sustainable change. His career connects senior public administration, postgraduate education and practical management consulting.

41+
Years in public administration and consulting
30+
Years at SLIDA
04
Sri Lankan universities as visiting lecturer
2017—Present
Chairman of HighFlyer

What Prof. Thilakasiri brings

Four decades of public-sector perspective, translated into clear and practical institutional advice.

01

Public-sector transformation

Reform that connects policy intent with the people, systems and institutional discipline needed to deliver it.

02

Leadership & human capital

Executive learning and leadership development grounded in public-service practice and organisational realities.

03

Strategy & institutional reform

Clear strategic direction, stronger management systems and pragmatic pathways from ambition to implementation.

A career shaped by public service.

From co-operative development and university teaching to three decades at SLIDA, Prof. Thilakasiri’s experience combines administration, education and advisory leadership.

  1. Jan 2017 — Present

    Chairman

    HighFlyer

  2. 2015 — Present

    Visiting Professor

    Huazhong University of Science and Technology

  3. Mar 1986 — Dec 2016

    Director General

    SLIDA

  4. 1982 — 1986

    Lecturer

    University of Colombo

  5. 1977 — 1982

    Co-operative Development Officer

    Department of Cooperative Development

Academic foundation

Public administration at the foundation. Strategic management at postgraduate level.

Master of Business Administration

University of Birmingham

Birmingham Business School · United Kingdom

Bachelor of Science in Public Administration

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Sri Lanka
Prof. M. Thilakasiri speaking at a leadership workshop

Still shaping the public-service conversation.

In 2026, Huazhong University of Science and Technology renewed Prof. Thilakasiri’s appointment as Visiting Professor, continuing an academic relationship that began in 2015. To mark the renewed appointment, he delivered a lecture on bureaucracy, red tape and the enduring challenge of administrative reform.

Read the university announcement

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