Law Degree

Dr. Chathura Warnasuriya

Head of Law School, Award Coordinator - LLM

Dr. Chathura Warnasuriya holds a Ph.D in Law from Brunel University London and an LLM in International Trade Law from the University of Wales Cardiff’s Institution. Whilst practicing in all areas of general commercial litigation, Dr. Warnasuriya has worked as an Associate at Global Solicitors, Wembley in the United Kingdom. He possesses experience in international business and commercial negotiations in countries across the Europe. His expertise is broadly in the areas of Corporate and Commercial laws, with particular emphasis on international trade finance. He is also an Attorney-at- Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka with over 19 years’ experience as a legal Counsel. He holds and has held a number of visiting academic appointments and has authored several works on Commercial and International Law. He is intensively involved in international fora and has given presentations and reports on contemporary legal issues at law symposiums held in many countries. 

Recent publications; 

NSBM Green University – Research Conference 2021  

Conference Paper: Force Majeure, Supervening Impossibility & Frustration of Contract in the light of COVID-19  

• KothelawalaDefence University  Law Journal 2020  

Journal Article: Fraud unravels all; Do fraudulent documents invalidate a Letter of Credit?  

• Brunel Law Conference 2017 

Conference Paper: Typographical errors and mistakes in the name or the address of the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit; Can the UCP 600 or the ISBP 745 provide the necessary cover?  

Contact: chathura@apiit.lk Tel: +94 11 7 675 202

Sameera Silva

Lecturer

Sameera obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Law(LLB) from the University of Colombo in 2005. He is also an Attorney – at- Law and has been in active practice since 2007, specializing in Property Law and Real Estate matters.

He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA -UK) and a Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

He has also worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG, Two of the renowned international audit firms,  in Tax, Legal Services and Forensic Departments. He is a Toastmasters and a Past President of CIMA Toastmasters Club.

Nayantha Wijesundara

Lecturer

Nayantha is a practicing lawyer specializing mainly in the areas of Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law and Criminal Law. Having previously been a State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Department, Nayantha has experience in both the official and unofficial Bar.

Nayantha holds a LLM on Advanced Studies in Public International Law from Leiden University, and a LLM from University of Colombo where he focused on Public Law. He also possesses a LLB from University of London. Additionally, he holds a post graduate diploma in Conflict & Peace Studies from the University of Colombo.

He is an experienced lecturer having functioned as a visiting lecturer and resource person in several state universities and private institutions. Additionally, Nayantha has a number of publications including peer reviewed research papers in international and Sri Lankan law journals dealing with issues pertaining to International Law, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Human Rights Law. He is also the author of a book encompassing a multi- disciplinary study of the executive presidential system in Sri Lanka entitled “Whither or Whether the Executive Presidency: A Study in the Light of Separatism”, which is an expansion of his research for which the Law College Foundation Legal Research Prize was awarded in the year 2009.

His research interests are many and wide-ranging as they include international relations, public international law, international human rights law, transitional justice and peace-building in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan political conflict and constitutional law. In his spare time, Nayantha enjoys reading post-colonial South Asian authors, and experimenting in the kitchen.

Nayantha has been part of APIIT Law School since 2016, and he lectures on Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Human Rights, and Introduction to the Law of Evidence.

Indira Ratwatte

Lecturer

Indira Ratwatte graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo and subsequently took oaths as an Attorney- at- Law. She completed the Master’s degree in Law also from the University of Colombo. She worked as a Senior Legal Executive at Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC for a period of three years and taught at Ladies’ College, Colombo for a period of six years, whilst also functioning as the Deputy Sectional Head of the London Advanced Level Division.

Anusha Wickramasinghe

Lecturer

Anusha Wickramasinghe is a PhD candidate in air law at the International Institute of Air and Space Law, Leiden University, the Netherlands. Anusha obtained her LL.B. Degree from the Open University of Sri Lanka in 2002 and hold a LL.M. from McGill University, Canada. She is an attorney-at-law. Anusha has over 12 years of teaching experience in the field of law at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Anusha’s research interests in include air law, space law, shipping law, public international law and commercial law. She has published several journal articles on various issues concerning air law.

Taniya Rajapakse

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Mrs. Taniya Rajapakse is a full time lecturer at APIIT Law School and has been a faculty member since 2020. She holds a Master of Sciences degree in Human Resource Management and Development from the University of Salford (UK). And is also an alumna of APIIT Sri Lanka, where she earned her LLB (Hons.) degree offered by the Staffordshire University. Taniya specializes in teaching English criminal and contract law. She received her primary education from Maliyadeva Girls Collage Kurunegala. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering in social service.  

Email: taniya@apiit.lk 

Shalindi Gallage

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Shalindi currently works as a Full-Time Lecturer in the Law School at APIIT. She is a lecturer of Law as well as a lecturer in the NCUK program. She currently lectures in the fields of International Business law, English Legal systems and Sociology. She implemented the Gavel club in the law school. Shalindi is a Double degree holder in the fields of Law and International Relations. She holds a qualifying law Degree (QLD-LLB) with a second class honors from University of London and holds a BA (Bachelor of Arts) second upper division specialized degree from University of kelaniya (Internal). She is currently reading for her Masters (LLM) in International business law from the University of Staffordshire. She is also qualified in CAE affiliated to the university of Cambridge. She also holds an English Diploma from the Royal Institute Department of English Colombo as well as a Diploma in computer studies (DICS). She has been an all Island winner for public speaking and was a finalist at the biggest inter university speech competition best speaker 2019.She also published and presented a policy paper on the topic peace Reconciliation of Ugenda at the Youth Conference on International Relations held at University of Kelaniya.   

Natasha Wijeyesekera

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Natasha currently works as a Part-Time Lecturer at the Law School of Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT). At APIIT, Natasha has been teaching and tutoring Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Law in Context, Introduction to Law and Legal English.  

She is also a member of the Editorial Board of the inaugural APIIT Law Journal, the Patron of the Moot, Debate and Mock Mediation Society, and the Co-Leader of the English Language Centre of APIIT, an initiative of the APIIT Life Pillar.  

Natasha holds an LL. B (hons.) degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo and is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.  

During her time as an undergraduate, she has rendered research assistance for the preparation of a training curriculum and manual for law enforcement officials on ‘Child Trafficking’ and a baseline survey, report and presentation on ‘Child Marriage during the war and the post-war context in the North and East of Sri Lanka’. 

She also works as a Defence Counsel at the Chambers of a President’s Counsel.  

Natasha’s current research interests lie in Comparative Constitutional law, Environmental Constitutionalism, Gender and Women’s Rights and Transitional Justice.

E-mail: natasha@apiit.lk  

Ext: 201 

Nadana Thanasi Konara

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Nadana obtained her Bachelor of Laws Degree with Honors from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo in 2018. She took oaths as an Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2020. Currently she is reading for her master’s degree in Law from University of Colombo specializing in Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, and ICT Law.  

She has worked in diverse working environments including International, Government & Private Sector. During her time as an undergraduate, she has worked in the capacity of a Research assistant at International Water Management Institute under the projects of “City Regional Food Systems “and “Managing Rural –Urban Linkages”. Before Joining APIIT Law School She was the Legal Officer at Orel IT (Pvt) Ltd & the Legal Consultant at Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation. 

Her research interests include International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, Environmental Law, ICT law & Gender justice. She is also a published author in legal research in the areas of Human Rights, Gender Justice, Environmental law, ICT Law and Water Security. 

 Contact: nadana@apiit.lk   

Lara Anishka Nanayakkara

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Lara Anishka Nanayakkara obtained her LLB with Honours from the University of Warwick, UK in 2019. She is currently in the process of completing her Attorney at Law examination from Sri Lanka Law College. Additionally, Lara is completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK.   

During her time as an undergraduate, she participated in many debating competitions, internal mooting competitions, internal negotiation competitions and Witness Examination Competitions. Whilst Lara was studying in England she also conducted and managed an annual university project for The Times UK.  

Lara is currently part of the University of Warwick Global Alumni Group as well as Warwick Mentoring group. She has also interned at a few law firms in Colombo, namely Nithi Murugesu & Associates LLP, De Silva Jayasuriya LLP and F J & G De Sarams LLP to further her knowledge and experience of the practise. 

 Additionally, Lara has been working as a Part-Time lecturer at Asia Pacific Institute of Technology (APIIT) since 2020. Her key research interests include European Union Law, Legal implications surrounding BREXIT, Legal issues within modern society.  

 Should you wish to contact Lara you may drop her an email at lara@apiit.lk 

Fathima Hafsa Abdul Hudha

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Mrs Hafsa Hudha is an attorney-at-law who graduated from Staffordshire University with an LLB (Hons.). She is currently reading for her Master of Business Studies at the University of Colombo. In addition, she holds a Diploma in Foreign Affairs from the BIDTI awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At present, Mrs Hudha is attached to the corporate division of D.L. & F. De Saram, a tier-one legal firm and, she had completed her apprenticeship at Nithya Partners. 

Mrs Hudha is someone who is environmentally conscious and spent her pioneering years as a legal consultant to Environmental Foundation Limited. She was involved in dialogue with the government, civil society organisations and communities to promote environmental conservation efforts and policy reform. In furtherance of her passion for environmental conservation, she is currently attached to the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka. Mrs Hudha is an avid contributor to the literature — she has authored books, contributed to publications and research papers, and presented her work in international conferences. She is also a national mooter. 

Mrs Hafsa is a believer in diversified knowledge and her primary values are woven around the willingness to learn, the foresight that everything can be fixed, and empathy towards humans and the planet alike. 

Ext-206/ Email- hafsa@apiit.lk  

Part-time faculty member  

Thishya Thamari

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL. B) from the University of London in year 2019 and took oaths as an Attorney-at-Law in the year 2021. I completed the Master’s Degree in Law, specializing the areas of Intellectual Property and ICT Law from the Cardiff Metropolitan University.  I have taught at Musaeus college- Colombo 7 (British Curriculum Section (Advanced Level), for a period of two years.  

During my time as an undergraduate, I have worked at a criminal chamber under a senior criminal practitioner and during my period of apprenticeship I have worked at a chamber of a President Counsel in the Commercial context.  

My primary research focused on the area of Misleading Advertising under the law of unfair competition. I further intend to carry out researches on areas of criminal law and constitutionalism.  

I currently work as a Full- Time Lecturer at Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT).  

Contact details- thishyajayasundara@gmail.com 

thishya@apiit.lk  

Mr. Harsha Widanapathirana

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Harsha Widanapathirana possesses a LL.B from the University of Peradeniya (2016), a LLM in International Business specializing in Information Technology and Intellectual Property from the Cardiff Metropolitan University (2021) and an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting (Cima- UK). He took oaths as an Attorney-at-Law of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in 2018 and has been engaged in the profession as an instructing attorney cum lecturer in law. He joined APIIT as a visiting lecturer in 2019 and is currently attached to the law school as a part-time lecturer in law. He is conducting lectures in a number of private and governmental higher education institutions under various capacities and shares an interest in research areas such as commercial law, family law, environmental law, legal theory and has publications on commercial law and environmental law. He is also committed towards the cause of environmental preservation and sustainable development and acts as an active member of several environmental organizations. His inspiration behind lecturing is to assist students to become good professionals and empathetic human beings who can contribute to the betterment and the development of the society while respecting justice, equality, discipline and equity.” 

Contact Details -  

Electronic mail – Harsha@apiit.lk  Mobile – 0712460638 

Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/harshaswidanapathirana 

Lalani Paranawithana

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Lalani Paranawithana is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, a Notary Public, Commissioner for Oaths, Registered Company Secretary and an Intellectual Property Attorney registered under the National Intellectual Property Organisation (NIPO); A Graduate of Laws (London) and Postgraduates in International Relations and Laws; Alternative Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property Law are areas of research interests. 

Experienced in the areas of Civil Law practice, has functioned as an Administrator in a variety of public, private, INGO’s and foreign mission affiliations. An academic for secondary, tertiary and professional education, with local and foreign liaising and training. Focus spanning from corporate to private laws, has multi-involvement. APIIT School of Law, is a part time academic venture with a great team and commitment. 

Mottos: ‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough -Albert Einstein’ and ‘A lawyer without books would be like a workman without tools – Thomas Jefferson’. 

Email: lalanip@apiit.lk 

Bhagya Wickramasinghe

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

Kiruli Ransalu

Lecturer – APIIT Law School 

G.K Kiruli Ransalu is an Attorney-at-Law in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. She is also a Notary Public, Commissioner for Oaths, and a Registered Company Secretary.  

She is an LL.B graduate from the Department of Law, University of Peradeniya. She has successfully completed her LL.B degree with honours (Second Class -Upper Division). She was selected as a scholarship recipient for the LL.M programme by the Penn State Law-Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A based on her outstanding academic performance and professional affiliations. She is currently an LL.M candidate at the Penn State Law-Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A. She is specifically concentrating on the disciplines of Commercial Law and Banking and Finance Law. 

Kiruli Ransalu had excelled at the final examination conducted by the Sri Lanka Law College with First Class Honours. She is a past legal apprentice at the Attorney General’s Department, Sri Lanka. She has also interned at the Human Rights Commission, Sri Lanka. 

She is currently engaged as a lecturer in law (part-time) at the APIIT Law School. She is also working as a visiting lecturer at the Imperial College of Business Studies. 

Email: kiruli@apiit.lk