H.M.W. Ariyarathna Herath Professor in Economics holds a Bachelor of Arts Special Degree in Economics from the University of Peradeniya, Master of Philosophy in Economics from University of Peradeniya, Master of Science in Development and Resource Economics from Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and Doctor of Philosophy from Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. He has been employed in the University of Peradeniya in the posts of a Lecturer, and then Senior Lecturer, and as a Professor. Presently, he is teaching courses related to Project Analysis, Development Economics and Macroeconomics at the University of Peradeniya. During this period, he had also served at the National Institute of Co-operative Development (NICD), Polgolla in the capacity of Director (Academic and Development), and International Research Centre, University of Peradeniya as a Deputy Director. Currently, he holds the position of the Head of the Department, Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Peradeniya, and as a member of Board of Directors, Regional Development Bank, Sri Lanka. Prof. H.M.W. Ariyarathna Herath has served as a consultant and prepared reports for many national and international organizations such as Pathfinder Foundation Colombo; Plan International Sri Lanka; IFAD and Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication and Udarata Development; North Central Provincial Council; Road Development Authority, Sri Lanka; UNDP, State Ministry of Skill Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation, Colombo, and Central Provincial Council. He has also authored the following books: Principles and Project Planning and Appraisal; Microfinance: Theory and Practice; Gender Responsive Budgeting Process in Sri Lanka. He has a wide range of research publications in various national and international journals. His publications include work on the fields of microfinance and poverty, gender budgeting, women empowerment, youth unemployment, issues of agriculture in Developing Countries.
