Ms. Vishaka Nanayakkara Recognized by AASSA for Expanding Digital Education and Opportunity through Open Learning
Ms. Vishaka Nanayakkara, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, has been recognized by the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) for her contributions to “Expanding Digital Education and Opportunity through Open Learning.” Her achievements are featured in the AASSA publication Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advancing SDGs in Asia, which highlights women leaders across the region whose work advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The recognition acknowledges Ms. Nanayakkara’s longstanding efforts to broaden access to computing education through innovative open and distance learning initiatives. Through her leadership in digital education, she has helped create opportunities for thousands of learners, particularly women and students from underserved communities, to pursue studies and careers in information technology and software development. Her work directly contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) while promoting digital inclusion and economic empowerment.
Ms. Nanayakkara earned her Bachelor of Science in Engineering with First Class Honours in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Moratuwa in 1994. She later obtained a Technical Licentiate in Computer Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. Over her academic career, she has taught generations of students in computer engineering, information technology, and related disciplines, while pursuing research in technology-enhanced learning, e-governance, and information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D).
Her leadership contributions extend beyond teaching and research. She served as Head of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering from 2005 to 2011 and later became Director of the Centre for Open Distance Learning at the University of Moratuwa in 2017. She has also contributed to national digital transformation initiatives through service as a Board Director of the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka and as a member of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on the Digitalization of Education. Her accomplishments have previously been recognized through awards including Computer Society of Sri Lanka Female ICT Leader of the Year (2016) and the Computer Society of Sri Lanka Elite Award for ICT Educator of the Year (2021).
Among her most influential contributions is the development of open.uom.lk, a large-scale digital learning platform that provides open educational resources, online courses, and flexible learning opportunities for students who may not have access to traditional university education. Designed with multilingual content, asynchronous learning models, and low-bandwidth delivery mechanisms, the platform has significantly improved educational accessibility across Sri Lanka. The initiative has received international recognition, winning first place at the European Conference on E-Learning Awards in 2022 and the ASOCIO Digital Excellence Gold Award in Education Technology in 2024.
Ms. Nanayakkara has also played a pivotal role in modernizing the University of Moratuwa’s Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) degree programme. Through flexible online and blended learning approaches, the programme has opened pathways for learners who are unable to pursue conventional university education, while enabling many women and first-generation STEM students to enter the digital workforce. Today, graduates of the programme contribute to sectors such as software engineering, cybersecurity, quality assurance, and digital services.
A strong advocate for women’s participation in technology, Ms. Nanayakkara is also a founding board member of the Women’s Chamber for Digital Sri Lanka, supporting women’s leadership and entrepreneurship within the country’s growing digital economy. Her vision emphasizes that sustainable digital transformation depends not only on technological infrastructure but also on building human capacity through education and skills development.
The University of Moratuwa congratulates Ms. Vishaka Nanayakkara on this distinguished regional recognition by AASSA and celebrates her outstanding contributions to expanding educational opportunity, promoting digital inclusion, and empowering future generations through open learning.
