Wikipedia

Vipula Wanigasekera

Dr.Vipula Wanigasekera , former Sri Lankan Diplomatic Envoy, Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Authority / Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Convention Bureau ( both institutions coming under the Minister of Tourism in Sri Lanka) and Corporate head in leading business houses in the 90s such as Hecht Heyworth & Alcan UK, Sherman Sons, Deldem Group HK, is currently a Consultant Business diversifier, Academic in Marketing, International Business, Tourism and Events, Author and YouTuber. Later, he became a Modern Spiritual and Buddhist Meditation Teacher, Wellness tourism Expert and IICA Reiki Healing therapist. [1][2][3][4] after an extensive study and practice of comparative religion, Buddhist philosophy, Non Duality, Modern spirituality and Wellness-spiritual tourism.[5][6] He is former Senior Lecturer for University of Kelaniya, Open University of Sri Lanka, Plymouth University, UK and currently lecturing at Edith Cowan University, Perth/Sri Lanka.

Education & Career edit

Dr.Wanigasekera, a product of Royal College, Colombo, holds a degree from the Chartered Institute of Marketing - UK, an MBA from the PIM - University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and PhD in philosophy from IIC University of Technology. He is also a qualified Carnatic Musician from the Institute of Fine Arts, London, IICA Healing Therapist and Wellness tourism expert. He moved from active Corporate sector to public service as Director of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board[7] in the mid-1990s. He was later seconded to the Sri Lankan foreign office and held senior diplomatic positions in Malaysia as Counsellor and Norway as Consul General/Head of the Mission since 1997, having been entrusted to establish the first Sri Lankan Diplomatic Mission in Oslo in 1999.[8][9] Later in Sri Lanka, he held the position of CEO, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau [10][11][12] from 2005 to 2016 with a two-year concurrent post as Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Authority from 2011 to 2013,[13][14][15][16][17] both under the Ministry of Tourism.[18] He entered Academia full time in 2016 [19] serving Plymouth University UK and Edith Cowan University, Perth specializing international business, Marketing, Management, tourism and events. His PhD is in Spiritual tourism in relation to Buddhist philosophy and modern non dual concept. Following the launch of his book ' Pointers to Enlightenment ' he began to offer meditation and healing sessions for spiritual seekers based on Non dual and Buddhist teachings.[20][21]

Spirituality edit

After a study of comparative religions for nearly two decades and practice of years of Meditation, he published the book Pointers to Enlightenment in 2013 and embarked on spiritual work offering meditation sessions specially for tourists while visiting Sri Lanka. He later extended this service to other countries including Australia.[22][23][24][25] Wanigasekera's PhD thesis linked Modern non-duality to Buddhist Philosophy in spiritual tourism, attempting to establish a theory of 'resonance'. He is regularly featured as a resource person in spiritual discussions.[26][27][28] Dr Wanigasekera later expanded his expertise to Healing Therapy which he now combines with Meditation for healing both physical and mental illnesses.

Research edit

  • An Analytical Study of Modern Non-Duality Concept with special reference early Buddhist Discourses and their impact on spiritual tourism PhD Thesis.[29]
  • Anatomy of Terrorism and Political Violence in South Asia –IDA Journal November 2006 - IDA Paper P-4163 Log: H 06-001530 Online - Management of the Tamil Diaspora–LTTE's primary function abroad[30]
  • Behavioral Aspects in Multifaceted Armed Conflicts and their Implications – Sri Lankan Case[31]
  • Overcoming Cross-Cultural Differences in Postwar Sri Lanka: The Case of Jetwing-Jaffna[32]
  • Pointers to Enlightenment: Truth is Simple[33]
  • Dabbling with the Devil [34]

Versatility edit

Wanigsekera's articles in newspapers,[35][36][37] TV interviews on Spirituality, involvement in Music,[38] his book Dabbling with the Devil [39] and his research on various topics, have sometimes raised questions on his role as a spiritual teacher and healing therapist due to the versatile nature of his life style and career for which his response has been that a true spiritual seeker or enlightened person does not wear a mask in society to reflect ego but behaves genuinely within norms and ethics of society.

References edit

  1. ^ "Lecturer Profiles". ACBT. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  2. ^ "Tourism personality retires to enter academia". www.dailymirror.lk.
  3. ^ "Sri Lanka is gifted with tourist attractions!". www.ft.lk.
  4. ^ "Sri Lankan Peace Talks ââ'¬" V: An Overview of the Third Round".
  5. ^ Zoysa, Villa De (September 21, 2019). "Vipula on meditation".
  6. ^ "Cinnamon Wellness Retreat woos body, mind and soul". www.ft.lk.
  7. ^ "WWW Virtual Library - Sri Lanka: Pinnawela". www.lankalibrary.com.
  8. ^ "news07". www.island.lk.
  9. ^ "news07". www.island.lk.
  10. ^ "The Island". www.island.lk.
  11. ^ "MICE tourism gets spotlight in Budget 2016".
  12. ^ "Sri Lanka Tourism showcase "One Island, Thousand Treasures" at IFTM Travel Fair Paris , France 2015". www.dailymirror.lk.
  13. ^ "Top Olympic official visiting Sri Lanka".
  14. ^ "A bureaucratic viewpoint". www.ft.lk.
  15. ^ "Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority". www.sltda.lk.
  16. ^ Fernando, Jehan. "Sri Lanka wins bid to host PATA". www.srilankanewslive.com.
  17. ^ "Sri Lanka eyes conference travellers, India is a key market: official". September 22, 2015.
  18. ^ "Tourism personality enters academia".
  19. ^ "Our Staff". ACBT. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  20. ^ "Nature Meditation at Ahaspokuna". www.ahaspokuna.com.
  21. ^ "How to develop spiritual tourism". www.ft.lk.
  22. ^ "Vipula's 'Pointers to Enlightenment' book launch on Tuesday".
  23. ^ "'Pointers to Enlightenment' A book focused on developing spiritual tourism".
  24. ^ "The Island". www.island.lk.
  25. ^ "Vipula launches book on meditation and peace of mind".
  26. ^ "GRIN - An Analytical Study of the Modern Non-Duality Concept of Modern Spirituality. Teachings of Early Buddhist Discourses". www.grin.com.
  27. ^ "Take a break from the rat race and reenergize your body, mind and soul at the Cinnamon Wellness Retreat". June 11, 2019.
  28. ^ "About – Non Duality and Buddhism".
  29. ^ Vipula Wanigasekera IIC University of Technology. "An Analytical Study of Modern Non-Duality Concept with special reference to the Teachings of early Buddhist Discourses". Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  30. ^ "Info" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  31. ^ "DTIC ADA469835: The Anatomy of Terrorism and Political Violence in South Asia Proceedings of the First Bi-Annual International Symposium of the Center for Asian Terrorism Research (CATR) October 19-21, 2005, Denpensar, Bali, Indonesia". May 1, 2006 – via Internet Archive.
  32. ^ Vipula Wanigasekera. "Overcoming cross-cultural differences in post-war Sri Lanka: the case of Jetwing in Jaffna". Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  33. ^ Wanigasekera (2013). Pointers to Enlightenment. Vipula Wanigasekera. ISBN 978-955-44434-0-2.
  34. ^ Wanigasekera. Dabbling with the Devil. Vipula Wanigasekera. p. 40. ISBN 978-955-44434-1-9.
  35. ^ "Adapting spirituality to find a blue ocean". www.dailymirror.lk.
  36. ^ "Role of spirituality in management".
  37. ^ "Polity versus bureaucracy in implementation of development work". www.ft.lk.
  38. ^ "Sithijaya Adaraya - Vipula & Resil Wanigasekera - Hiru TV Music Video Downloads". www.hirutv.lk.
  39. ^ "'Dabbling with the Devil' -Released online". The Sunday Times. Sri Lanka. 2 December 2018.

External links edit

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