1 428/42D, Ranpokuna Mawatha, Pita Kotte, Sri Lanka Tel- +94 775 ...

428/42D, Ranpokuna Mawatha, Pita Kotte, Sri Lanka
Tel- +94 775 361380; e-mail:
nil.rotarypeacefellow@gmail.com
Nilakshi Gunatillake
Rotary Peace Fellow 2011,Rotary Peace Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok,
Thailand
Trainer – (Security Sector Reforms)
PROFILE
A committed, dynamic and resourceful senior manager with significant field experience in
Sri Lanka, and an indepth knowledge of Thailand, Cambodia, all other South Asian countries
and hands on with a global network of conflict prevention, peacebuilding and security
experts. Critical thinker, analyst and strong decision maker. Capacity enhancer, planner and
vision oriented target achiever. Certified Trainer in Security Sector Reforms. Has over
seventeen years of hands on in the Banking and not-for-profit sectors. Expertise in
application of learnt concepts. Skilled in all stages of the project cycle with successful
leadership and coordination with multinational teams. Experience working with different
stakeholders including Government, Military, NGO, Corporates and Grass roots and
coordinating multisectoral programs with a range of donors. Keen to continue developing
skills and experience through visualizing, managing and monitoring programmes in postconflict
and transitional contexts. Keen researcher with interest in Post Conflict Stability and
Security Sector Transformation, Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporates as a
stakeholder of peace, Development and Security nexus, Sustainability and National
Ownership of Donor Funded Programs and Counter Insurgency, Counter Terrorism and their
link with National and Human Security.
EMPLOYMENT
Regional Liaison Officer – South Asia
Regional Center for Strategic Studies, Sri Lanka /
Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), The Hague
September 2007 – December 2010
• Key point person for the South Asian (SA) region
• Build strategic partnerships/collaborations in the SA region with INGOs, NGOs, CSOs and
relevant policy making authorities dealing with conflict prevention and peace building
(including creating a working group of SA Peace and security experts, mobilizing youth and
military in post war Sri Lanka and mobilizing community based organizations towards
reconciliation in Sri Lanka)
• Leading Assessments, Project Planning, Designing, Development and Management
• Training/Capacity Building of SA grassroots organizations and other stakeholders, including
relevant State officials
• Main liaison for donor representatives, as well as responsibility for donor reporting and
proposal development
• Oversee all South Asian programs
• Ensuring appropriate administrative, financial and logistical systems are in place with
relevant
stakeholders included in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the
project
• Budgeting and budgetary management
• Strategic positioning of the organization in the region
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Program Specialist/Office Manager
USAID/Louis Berger Group, Sri Lanka/Washington D.C, USA
(Projects- USAEP-United States Asia Environmental Partnership
SCOTIA-SL- Sustainable Coastal Tourism in Asia, Sri Lanka)
• All liaising and coordinating with Head Office in Washington, D.C
• Managing the project financial accounting and reporting, including compilation of
monthly field cash reports, bank reconciliation forms and monthly cash requirements
• Facilitate study exchanges and training courses/workshops
• Facilitate report preparation and/or documentation of meetings, workshops, including project
quarterly and annual reports
• Program implementation and assist with Project Monitoring , Evaluations
• Provide input to project reports and prepare quarterly and annual reports
• Conducting research and briefing staff on relevant issues as requested
• Administered a small grants program, including ensuring documentation compliance with
USAID grant guidelines and company procedure and was the key point of contact
between the grantee and grantor
• Member of the Editorial Board of the Project Newsletter/Quarterly and Annual Reports
Sampath Bank Limited (1991-2001
Assistant Manager (Staff Officer) - September 1999 to July 2001
• Identification of viable organizations with a significant business potential through regular
marketing visits, market research and continuous communication
• Overall supervision and management of the operations of the branch
• Gathering market information and analysing contemporary industry and comparative
business statistics
• Preparation and implementation of budget proposals to achieve corporate objectives
• Maintain high level of internal and external customer service by meeting and exceeding
their expectations with emphasis on high level of professionalism, quality, value
addition, timely delivery and relationship building
• Cross selling of Bank’s products such as payment and cash management, personal and
home loans
• Increasing and improving the employee participation towards the organizations goals and
objectives and also looking into quality performance delivery
• Organizing and implementing campaigns for business development
Staff Assistant Grade I - December 1994 to August 1999
Staff Assistant Grade II - April 1991 to Nov 2004
PART TIME ASSIGNMENTS
Part Time Researcher/Freelance Writer
Media Centre for National Security – Points of Contact Major General Prasad Samarasinghe
Major General Udaya Nanayakkara
Sri Lanka Air Force
Point of Contact Group Captain Janaka Nanayakkara
Coordinator Defence Services Command and Staff College Selection, Current Affairs
Study Program
Study Course on Current Affairs for officers of Sri Lanka Army
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Point of Contact Colonel Deepal Wanniarachchi , Directorate of Training, Sri Lanka Army
Snr.Manager – Capacity Building and Institutional Development – Peacebuilding and
Development Institute in Sri Lanka.
EDUCATION
• Rotary Peace Fellowship at the Rotary Center of the Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok, Thailand.
• Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation (Center for Justice and
Peacebuilding, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, USA
• Institute of Bankers Examination, Sri Lanka
• Diploma in Human Rights - June-October, 2004- conducted by the Institute of
Human Rights of Sri Lanka.
• General Certificate in Diplomacy and International Relations, July-November
2004 Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, Sri Lanka.
• Diploma in Professional Diplomacy and World Affairs (Merit) February-
October 2005, Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, Sri Lanka.
• Diploma in Conflict Resolution: Skills Development (Distinction) Sep ’06 to Feb
’07, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Sri Lanka, and the UN University of Peace
in Costa Rica.
Research as partial fulfillment of the course work was “Stranger Becomes A
Brother”- Military’s Role in Building Cordial Civil-Military Relationships.
GCE O/L – 1986 – 4 Distinctions and 4 Credits
GCE A/L - 1989 – 1A. 1B and 1C
TRAINING , NETWORKING & CERTIFICATIONS
• Monitoring and Evaluation conducted by the European Centre for Conflict Prevention,
Netherlands.
• Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-combatants- with special focus
on Women and Children, conducted by the Centre for Stabilization and Reconstruction
Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA.
• Training of Trainers on Security Sector Reforms conducted by the Institute of
Development and Strategic Studies, Philippines and Global Facilitation Network for
Security Sector Reforms (GFN.SSR), UK/Geneva, Democratic Control of Armed
Forces(DCAF) and Association for Security Sector Education and Training (ASSET)
• Security Sector Reforms Conference conducted by the Centre for Stabilization and
Reconstruction Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA.
• Security Sector Transformation Workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal conducted by the
Institute of Development and Strategic Studies, Philippines and GFN.SSR, UK
• Represented Sri Lanka in ‘Democracy and Governance’ and ‘ Border Security’ working
groups of North East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA), research center
affiliated to the National Defense University, Washington DC, USA.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
School Head Prefect (‘88/’89), Senior School Prefect (‘87/’88), Member-Western Band (’84-
’90), Member School Under -16 Badminton Team
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OTHER SKILLS
Analytical, Communication and Presentation Skills; IT Literacy; Go-getter negotiator and
competent mediation skills; Ethical, practical peacebuilder, at all times working within the
framework of National Obligations and legalities; New thinking, concept integrating and
knowledge generation skills; Proven network and relationship building skills.
REFERENCES
1. Mr.Aravinda Perera, Deputy Managing Director, Sampath Bank Limited, 101, Sir
James Peiris Mawatha, Colombo 01. Tel-4 730407 e-mailaravinda@sampath.lk
2. Mr.Prakash Peiris, Development Planning & Project Planning Specialist, 24/16, Peiris
Avenue, Idama, Moratuwa. Tel – 0773 633544 e-mailprakashpeiris@yahoo.com
3. Ms.Lori Hatton, Director, Louis Berger Group, 2445,M Street, NW,Washington DC
20037, USA.
Tel - +1 202 303 2723 e-mail- lhatton@louisberger.com
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