Gihan Wikramanayake
computer scientist
- January 17, 1960 · Colombo
- January 5, 2018 · Colombo
- 57 years
About Gihan Wikramanayake
Gihan Wikramanayake, 57, Sri Lankan academic.
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Full Biography
|Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake, FBCS, CITP (17 January 1960 – 5 January 2018) was a Sri Lankan academic. He was a Senior Professor in Computer Science and attached to the Department of Information Systems Engineering. He was the Director of the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) from 24 May 2010 to 31 May 2016. He was the Head of the Department of Information Systems Engineering from September 2002 to September 2005. He also served as the deputy director of the UCSC from 2003 to 2006.
Education
Educated at St. Aloysius' College (Galle) and Royal College Colombo, he graduated from the University of Colombo with a BSc in statistics and mathematics with First Class Honours in 1984 and went on to gain a MSc and PhD in computer science from the University of Wales, College of Cardiff in 1989 and 1996.
Academic career
In 1984 he joined the Computer Centre of the University of Colombo as a trainee programmer, he moved to the Department of Statistics and Computer Science as a researcher before becoming an Assistant Lecturer. In 1990 he became a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in 1996. Moving to the new Department of Computer Science in 2000 he became its acting Head in 2002.
In 2002 he became the head, Department of Information Systems Engineering, UCSC and deputy director, UCSC in 2004. From 2007 to 2008 he was the acting Head, Department of Communication and Media Technologies. He was also a visiting scholar of University of New Mexico, Stockholm University and Umeå University. In 2010 he became the Director of the UCSC and a professor of Computer Science. He served two terms as director UCSC.
Death
On 5 January 2018, Wikramanayake died at the age of 57 from motor neurone disease.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gihan_Wikramanayake
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Gihan Wikramanayake's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake born?
- A.24 May 1960
- B.31 May 1960
- C.5 January 1960
- D.17 January 1960correct
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake was born on 17 January 1960 according to the biography.
Source: biographical introduction
2.Which schools did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake attend during his education?
- A.St. Thomas' College and Royal College Colombo
- B.Royal College Colombo and University of Wales
- C.Royal College Colombo and St. Aloysius' College (Galle)correct
- D.Ananda College and University of Colombo
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake was educated at St. Aloysius' College (Galle) and Royal College Colombo.
Source: Education section
3.In what year did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake earn his BSc in statistics and mathematics?
- A.1996
- B.2002
- C.1984correct
- D.1989
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake graduated with a BSc in statistics and mathematics with First Class Honours in 1984.
Source: Education section
4.At which institution did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake earn his MSc and PhD?
- A.Stockholm University
- B.University of Wales, College of Cardiffcorrect
- C.University of Colombo
- D.University of New Mexico
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake gained his MSc and PhD from the University of Wales, College of Cardiff.
Source: Education section
5.What position did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake hold when he first joined the University of Colombo in 1984?
- A.Head of Department
- B.Senior Lecturer
- C.Trainee programmercorrect
- D.Assistant Lecturer
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake joined the Computer Centre of the University of Colombo as a trainee programmer in 1984.
Source: Academic career section
6.During which years did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake serve as the Head of the Department of Information Systems Engineering?
- A.2007 to 2008
- B.2003 to 2006
- C.2002 to 2005correct
- D.2010 to 2016
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake served as the Head of the Department of Information Systems Engineering from September 2002 to September 2005.
Source: biographical introduction
7.What was Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake's role at the UCSC from 2003 to 2006?
- A.Head of Department
- B.Deputy directorcorrect
- C.Senior Professor
- D.Director
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake served as the deputy director of the UCSC from 2003 to 2006.
Source: biographical introduction
8.When did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake serve as the acting Head of the Department of Communication and Media Technologies?
- A.2010 to 2016
- B.2007 to 2008correct
- C.2002 to 2005
- D.2003 to 2006
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake was the acting Head of the Department of Communication and Media Technologies from 2007 to 2008.
Source: Academic career section
9.During what period did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake serve as the Director of the University of Colombo School of Computing?
- A.2010 to 2016correct
- B.2003 to 2006
- C.1996 to 2000
- D.2002 to 2005
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake was the Director of the UCSC from 24 May 2010 to 31 May 2016.
Source: biographical introduction
10.In what year did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake become a Senior Lecturer?
- A.1996correct
- B.2000
- C.1984
- D.1990
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake became a Lecturer in 1990 and a Senior Lecturer in 1996.
Source: Academic career section
11.At what age did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake pass away?
- A.58
- B.55
- C.60
- D.57correct
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake died at the age of 57 on 5 January 2018.
Source: Death section
12.What was the cause of Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake's death?
- A.Cancer
- B.Motor neurone diseasecorrect
- C.Heart failure
- D.Pneumonia
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake died on 5 January 2018 from motor neurone disease.
Source: Death section
13.How many terms did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake serve as the Director of the UCSC?
- A.Two termscorrect
- B.Three terms
- C.Four terms
- D.One term
Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake served two terms as director of the UCSC.
Source: Academic career section
14.What professional designations are listed alongside Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake's name?
- A.BSc, MSc
- B.PhD, BSc
- C.FBCS, CITPcorrect
- D.Professor, Director
The biography lists Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake as holding the professional titles of FBCS and CITP.
Source: biographical introduction
15.In what year did Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake become the acting Head of the Department of Computer Science?
- A.2002correct
- B.2000
- C.2010
- D.2004
After moving to the Department of Computer Science in 2000, Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake became its acting Head in 2002.
Source: Academic career section
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