Himali Jinadasa

Himali Jinadasa is the former UNESCO Country Co-ordinator/ Country Focal Point for Sri Lanka, UNESCO South Asia Regional Office in New Delhi (2011-2023), initiating and supporting the implementation of a number of UNESCO programs in Sri Lanka, especially in the field of education related to innovation, learning for empathy and inter-cultural dialogue.

Previously, she served as the Land and Property Sector Head/Advisor for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and covered assignments for UNDP and UNHCR in the areas of rehabilitation.

Ms. Jinadasa was also the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Industry and Commerce, her previous appointments include Director-General, Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB), Chairperson and Director General, National Enterprise Development Agency of Sri Lanka (NEDA), Director-Outreach, Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), Presidential Secretariat, Director of National Projects Office (NPO), Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services as well as Researcher for the Commission for the Elimination of Discrimination and Monitoring of Fundamental Rights and Lecturer in Comparative Peace Processes for the University of Bradford implemented in collaboration with the Social Scientists Association in Sri Lanka.

Ms. Jinadasa was a member of the Government delegation for the final round of Peace Talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam  (LTTE) held in  Geneva, 2006, and was presented with an Appreciation Award, Professional & Career Women’s Awards, Women in Management (WIM) in 2013, she was a contributor to the Final Civil Society Report on the UN Decade of the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) which was submitted to the UNGA, as well as other publications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.Hons) in History, from the University of Colombo, Master of Science (MSc) in History of International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).