Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne is presently Professor and Head of the Department of Buddhist Philosophy at Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya), Colombo, Sri Lanka. He is also a

      - Visiting Lecturer. University of Colombo: Department of Buddhism and Pali (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 & 2003)

      - Visiting Lecturer. University of Peradeniya: 2001. Buddhism and Philosophical Problems: The final year students

      - Member of the Board of Management and Academic Boards: Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist 
	      Studies, Colombo.

      - Member of the Senate and the Council:  Buddhist and Pali University of  Sri Lanka, Colombo (2001 onwards)

      - Council Member:  The World Buddhist University, Bangkok, Thailand; 2000 onwards.

      - Member of Co-ordinating Committee : for developing a curriculum for Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies:
        Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

      - Joint Secretary: Sri Lanka Association of Buddhist Studies (SLABS) from its inception in August 2002.
      

He has also been an Instructor of the Dept of Philosophy, University of Hawaii periodically, the Dept of Philosophy, Chaminade University, Honolulu, Hawaii and at the Dept of Religion, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Academic Qualifications:

        Doctor of Philosophy in Comparative Philosophy. May 1992: University of Hawai'i at Manoa, USA. Thesis 
        Topic: Transcendence, Ineffability and Nirvana: An Analysis of the Relation between Religious Experience and 
        Language According to Early Buddhism (1986-1992).

        Master of Arts in Western Philosophy: August 1996. University of Hawai'i at Manoa, USA. (1984-86).

        Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Buddhist Philosophy (main) and Pali (subsidiary). First Class Pass,
        University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. 1982. Studied Sanskrit in the first year and had an A pass.         

        Tripitakavedi: Tripitaka, Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala, English, Tamil and Tarka-nyaya. First Class Pass.1969-1974.
        Buddha Sravaka Bhiksu University, Anuradhapuraya, Sri Lanka. 

        Pracina Pandita: Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhala 1975.Oriental Studies Society, Sri Lanka.

        Certificate of Counselling: Paul VIth Centre, Colombo. 1984.

Academic Distinctions and Prizes:

        Placed island-first in order of merit at Pracina Prarambha Examination: 1968.

        Placed island-first in order of merit at Pracina Madhyama Examination: 1971.

        Entered Buddha Sravaka Bhiksu University as the first in order of merit in an island-wide entrance 
        examination and retained the stand throughout all five years, and graduated with first class pass: 1974.

        Placed island-first at GAQ examination held by University of Peradeniya, External Examinations Branch and was 
        awarded internal studentship as a recognition of the merit: 1978.

        First-ever First Class Hons. degree awarded by University of Peradeniya to an external student: 1982.

        Prize for the subject of Pali in all three Prarambha, Madhyama and Avasana examinations of Oriental Studies 
        Society: 1968, 1971, 1975.

        Gunapala Senadheera Prize for the student who scores highest in the final degree examination of Buddha Sravaka 
        Bhiksu University, Anuradhapura.

Fellowships:

        East West Center Fellowship awarded by East West Center, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA to outstanding graduate students
        from Asia and Pacific: 1984-86.

        Commonwealth Fellow at Oxford University and Visiting Scholar at Wolfson College: October 1999- September 2000.


Contributions To Seminars And Conferences:

        Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne has presented Papers and represented Sri Lanka at many distinguished fora, at both national 
        and international level.


Publications:

        Prof Asanga Tilakaratne has numerous distinguished Papers and Books both in English and Sinhala to his credit, of 
        which his books (Sinhala) "Minis Getalu Pilibanda Bauddha Vigrahaya (Human Problems 
        in a Buddhist Perspective)" and "Sunyata Vadayehi Darsanaya ha Caraya (Theory and Practice of 
        Emptiness)" won the State Literary Award.. 

Other Sinhala Publications:

        1. Abhidharma Adhyayana (Studies in Abhidharma)

        2. Madihe Nahimi: Charitaya ha Chintanaya (Madihe Nayaka Thera: Life and Thought)

English Publications:

        1. Nirvana and Ineffability: A Study of the Buddhist Theory of Reality and Language pp. xi + 169. Postgraduate
            Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 1993.

        2. Logic and Epistemology in Theravada (English translation of the Ven. Hagoda Khemananda's Theravada Nyaya) 
            pp. xvi + 135. Published by the author of the Sinhala Original. Colombo, Sri Lanka.1993.

        3. Recent Rsearches in Buddhist Studies: Essays in Honour of Professor Y. Karunadasa.
             Edited with K. Dhammajoti and Kapila Abhayawansa. Professor Y. Karunadasa Felicitation Committee, Colombo. 
            1997. pp. XV+654.

        4. Beyond the Metaphysics of Common Sense. Edited with Arjuna de Zoysa, Y. Karunadasa, and Cahmpika 
            Ranawaka. 1998. A joint Publication of Vidyartha and Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist 
            Studies, Colombo.

        5. Wilhelm Geiger and the Study of the Culture and the History of Sri Lanka. Edited with Ulrich Everding. 
           Geothe Institute and Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Colombo. 2000.


Current Research Interests:

        *  The Buddhist Concept of Justice: its theory and practice (a study project carried out at University of Oxford during
            October 1999 - September 2000; currently working on a publication on it and teaching 
            a graduate course).
        
        * Issues of Buddhist logic.

        * Contemporary Buddhism in Sri Lanka and applied Buddhism.