Prof. Dr. Tilak Kariyawasam
Professor Emeritus. First graduated (B.A. First Class Hons) from Vidyodaya University (presently known as Sri Jayewardanepure University), Sri Lanka, in 1967. He was appointed as an assistant lecturer to the same university in 1968. From 1970 to 1973, he was engaged in postgraduate research work at the University of Lancaster, U.K., and he obtained his Ph.D. in 1974. In 1980, he was appointed as a senior lecturer of the University of Kelaniya. Subsequently, he also obtained a Commonwealth Fellowship to the University of Lancaster, U.K. (1984-85).
Prof. Tilak was the Head of the Department of Pāli and Buddhist Studies (1988-1997) and the Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Pāli and Buddhist Studies (1998-2003) at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He also held the Senior Professor of Buddhist Studies and Chair (2005-2008) at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. On 1/1/2008, he received the Vice-Chancellor’s award for completing 40 years of university service. In 2012, he was conferred the title “Professor Emeritus” by the University of Kelaniya.
Since 2009, he has been working at the International Buddhist College (IBC). From 2009 to 2023, he was the Dean of the Graduate School of IBC. Currently, he is a permanent professor and Academic Advisor at IBC.
Prof. Tilak specializes in Theravāda and Mahāyāna Buddhology as well as major Pāli and Sanskrit texts. He teaches subjects covering Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist Culture, Pāli and Theravāda Buddhism.