PLEASE NOTE: All trustees of the Education a Child Trust serve on a volunteer basis and receive no compensation.
Dr. Pramilla Senanayake, Founder and Chairman
is a graduate of the medical faculty Colombo, Sri Lanka. She did her postgraduate studies at London University, where she obtained her PhD. She then worked with the World Health Organization in India, where she played a key role in the eradication of smallpox in India.
Her next position was with the London-based International Planned Parenthood Federation, where she served first as its medical director for ten years and then as Assistant Director General, a post she held for 17 years. During her career at IPPF she was responsible for the global technical programs of the Federation in over 180 countries. These programs included sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, women's development, gender, adolescent health, safe motherhood and contraceptive technology and research.
Dr Senanayake chairs the Foundation Council of Global Forum for Health Research based in Geneva. She also chairs the board of trustees of Management of Intellectual Property for Health R & D based in Oxford UK and the Board of the Concept Foundation (Thailand). In addition she is a member of many other boards of non-profit organizations.
Dr Senanayake has received honorary degrees from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Sri Lankan College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In 2003 she was awarded a FIGO distinguished service award for her contribution to women's health globally.
Jayantha Dhanapala is a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs (1998-2003) and a former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the USA (1995-7) and to the UN Office in Geneva (1984-87).
He is currently Chairman of the UN University Council, a member of the Governing Board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and several other advisory boards of international bodies.
As a Sri Lankan diplomat Dhanapala served in London, Beijing, Washington D.C., New Delhi and Geneva and represented Sri Lanka at many international conferences. He chaired many of them, including the historic NPT Review and Extension Conference of 1995. He was Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) from 1987-92.
Dhanapala has received many international awards and honorary doctorates, published four books and several articles in international journals, and lectured widely.
Priyanthi Fernando is Executive Director of the Center for Poverty Analysis in Sri Lanka. Prior to that she was Executive Secretary of the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development based in the UK. She has a BA Degree in Sociology from the University of Sri Lanka and a MA in Mass Communications, University of Leicester, UK.
John Johns lives in San Diego, California. He and his Sri Lankan-born wife, Padmini, have developed and led EACT supporters in the U.S. since the 2004 tsunami. He is the co-founder and former co-CEO of New West Products, Inc., which in 2004 was acquired by ITW, a Fortune 200 company.
Prior to founding New West, John enjoyed a fifteen-year career in magazine publishing. For ten years, he was editorial director of East West Network, the world's largest publisher of in-flight magazines and, later, a publishing consultant to HarperCollins, the American Film Institute, Billboard Publications and the National Academy of Recording Artists. He was an adjunct professor in the USC School of Journalism and member of the Advisory Council to the School of Journalism at California State University Long Beach.
He has served as the past Chairman of Camp Ronald McDonald for Children with Cancer, Vice President of Southern California Children's Cancer Services and on the board of the Foundation of La Jolla High School. In addition to his ongoing work with EACT, he is an active board member of Aquatic Adventures, a non-profit organization that annually provides environmental education and outdoor experiences to over 1,500 inner-city youth in San Diego. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Children and Nature Network.
James Selvanathan Mather is a former partner with Ernst & Young chartered accountants in Sri Lanka and currently non-executive director of a number of public and private companies. These include C.I.C. Ltd, Acme Printing and Packaging Company Ltd, David Pieris Motor Company Ltd, Delmege Forsyth & Company Ltd and Management Systems Ltd. He is also a trustee of many charitable trusts and foundations.
Priyan Senanayake Co founder of the Educate a Child Project. Gained a BBA in London, in International Business. An entrepreneur, he has undertaken many projects in such diverse fields as hotel and property management, to sports research and scouting. He has also gained numerous certificates of distinction in acting and drama competitions and productions. Priyan is also a keen sportsman, having captained his college in 6 different sports. He is also a ( NCTV ) accredited radio presenter, specialising in voice over work.
Having moved back to Sri Lanka from London, he now lives and works in Colombo, being able to be more involved on a daily basis with the Trust.
Mr. S.K. Wickremesinghe a former High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in London. He is currently the Chairman of Sri Lanka's National Development Bank and Chairman of the Martin Wickremasinghe Trust. Until recently he was Chairman of Sri Lankan Airways. He was previously Chairman of C.I.C Ltd, Chairman of Commercial Bank Ltd, Chairman of Ceylon Tobacco Ltd.
Dr. Pramilla Senanayake, Founder and Chairman
is a graduate of the medical faculty Colombo, Sri Lanka. She did her postgraduate studies at London University, where she obtained her PhD. She then worked with the World Health Organization in India, where she played a key role in the eradication of smallpox in India.
Her next position was with the London-based International Planned Parenthood Federation, where she served first as its medical director for ten years and then as Assistant Director General, a post she held for 17 years. During her career at IPPF she was responsible for the global technical programs of the Federation in over 180 countries. These programs included sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, women's development, gender, adolescent health, safe motherhood and contraceptive technology and research.
Dr Senanayake chairs the Foundation Council of Global Forum for Health Research based in Geneva. She also chairs the board of trustees of Management of Intellectual Property for Health R & D based in Oxford UK and the Board of the Concept Foundation (Thailand). In addition she is a member of many other boards of non-profit organizations.
Dr Senanayake has received honorary degrees from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Sri Lankan College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In 2003 she was awarded a FIGO distinguished service award for her contribution to women's health globally.
Jayantha Dhanapala is a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs (1998-2003) and a former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the USA (1995-7) and to the UN Office in Geneva (1984-87).
He is currently Chairman of the UN University Council, a member of the Governing Board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and several other advisory boards of international bodies.
As a Sri Lankan diplomat Dhanapala served in London, Beijing, Washington D.C., New Delhi and Geneva and represented Sri Lanka at many international conferences. He chaired many of them, including the historic NPT Review and Extension Conference of 1995. He was Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) from 1987-92.
Dhanapala has received many international awards and honorary doctorates, published four books and several articles in international journals, and lectured widely.
Priyanthi Fernando is Executive Director of the Center for Poverty Analysis in Sri Lanka. Prior to that she was Executive Secretary of the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development based in the UK. She has a BA Degree in Sociology from the University of Sri Lanka and a MA in Mass Communications, University of Leicester, UK.
John Johns lives in San Diego, California. He and his Sri Lankan-born wife, Padmini, have developed and led EACT supporters in the U.S. since the 2004 tsunami. He is the co-founder and former co-CEO of New West Products, Inc., which in 2004 was acquired by ITW, a Fortune 200 company.
Prior to founding New West, John enjoyed a fifteen-year career in magazine publishing. For ten years, he was editorial director of East West Network, the world's largest publisher of in-flight magazines and, later, a publishing consultant to HarperCollins, the American Film Institute, Billboard Publications and the National Academy of Recording Artists. He was an adjunct professor in the USC School of Journalism and member of the Advisory Council to the School of Journalism at California State University Long Beach.
He has served as the past Chairman of Camp Ronald McDonald for Children with Cancer, Vice President of Southern California Children's Cancer Services and on the board of the Foundation of La Jolla High School. In addition to his ongoing work with EACT, he is an active board member of Aquatic Adventures, a non-profit organization that annually provides environmental education and outdoor experiences to over 1,500 inner-city youth in San Diego. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Children and Nature Network.
James Selvanathan Mather is a former partner with Ernst & Young chartered accountants in Sri Lanka and currently non-executive director of a number of public and private companies. These include C.I.C. Ltd, Acme Printing and Packaging Company Ltd, David Pieris Motor Company Ltd, Delmege Forsyth & Company Ltd and Management Systems Ltd. He is also a trustee of many charitable trusts and foundations.
Priyan Senanayake Co founder of the Educate a Child Project. Gained a BBA in London, in International Business. An entrepreneur, he has undertaken many projects in such diverse fields as hotel and property management, to sports research and scouting. He has also gained numerous certificates of distinction in acting and drama competitions and productions. Priyan is also a keen sportsman, having captained his college in 6 different sports. He is also a ( NCTV ) accredited radio presenter, specialising in voice over work.
Having moved back to Sri Lanka from London, he now lives and works in Colombo, being able to be more involved on a daily basis with the Trust.
Mr. S.K. Wickremesinghe a former High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in London. He is currently the Chairman of Sri Lanka's National Development Bank and Chairman of the Martin Wickremasinghe Trust. Until recently he was Chairman of Sri Lankan Airways. He was previously Chairman of C.I.C Ltd, Chairman of Commercial Bank Ltd, Chairman of Ceylon Tobacco Ltd.
PRAMILLA SENANAYAKE, CHAIRPERSON
Munir Samji is Chairman & CEO of Blitz Charter Group, the UK's leading audiovisual equipment rental and services company. He is also CEO of Hebridean Cruises plc. A chartered accountant, he was formerly Managing Director at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising.
Munir's recent voluntary activities include:
Tara Coomaraswamy has a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge and an MA and PhD in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Sussex. She worked at the Asian Institute, Bangkok, at Marga Institute, Colombo and undertook research projects for the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex and the Institute of Education, London. She taught Classics and English at her old school, CMS Ladies' College, Colombo and, after moving to London, gave private tuition in Classics for several years. She has a Performers Diploma in Piano from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and a Diploma in Art History from the V&A Museum, London. Experience in fund-raising for charity includes helping to organise bazaars, exhibitions, concerts and fashion shows. She currently engages in freelance journalism related to a broad spectrum of the arts, her main field of interest.
Alan Albert (F.R.S.A. , A.I.I.M.R.) has over 40 years experience in the investment management area, dealing primarily in international equity markets on behalf of both institutional and private investors. Most recently he worked for 15 years for Merrill Lynch Asset Management, where as a Senior Managing Director he managed the non-US asset management businesses. He then moved to create and manage the family office for Lakshmi Mittal ( Chairman of Arcelor-Mittal, the world's largest steel producer) where, as Chief Investment Officer, he is responsible for the management of one of the largest pools of private wealth in the world.
Marianna Dominguez is a accomplished administrative assistant with extensive experience operating at Director level. She is skilled in organizing and managing international conferences and has successfully completed exams in French and Spanish.
Sarath Liyanage runs his own travel company, where he manages travel accounts for Bankers Trust, Commonwealth Organisations, International Planned Parenthood Federation and other prestigious commercial and non-commercial entities. He is a member of the Institute of Travel and Tourism and continues to contribute to many focus groups engaged in responsible tourism. A devoted fund raiser for charities and good causes, he is also an avid golfer and scuba diver and takes great interest in environmental issues.
Munir Samji is Chairman & CEO of Blitz Charter Group, the UK's leading audiovisual equipment rental and services company. He is also CEO of Hebridean Cruises plc. A chartered accountant, he was formerly Managing Director at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising.
Munir's recent voluntary activities include:
- Member of His Highness The Aga Khan Shia Ismaili Council, UK
- Chairman of the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board
- Co-Founder & Vice-Chairman of the annual Asian Woman of Achievement Awards
- Hon. Treasurer and Trustee of the Clubs for Young People UK (formerly National Association of Boys Clubs)
Tara Coomaraswamy has a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge and an MA and PhD in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Sussex. She worked at the Asian Institute, Bangkok, at Marga Institute, Colombo and undertook research projects for the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex and the Institute of Education, London. She taught Classics and English at her old school, CMS Ladies' College, Colombo and, after moving to London, gave private tuition in Classics for several years. She has a Performers Diploma in Piano from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and a Diploma in Art History from the V&A Museum, London. Experience in fund-raising for charity includes helping to organise bazaars, exhibitions, concerts and fashion shows. She currently engages in freelance journalism related to a broad spectrum of the arts, her main field of interest.
Alan Albert (F.R.S.A. , A.I.I.M.R.) has over 40 years experience in the investment management area, dealing primarily in international equity markets on behalf of both institutional and private investors. Most recently he worked for 15 years for Merrill Lynch Asset Management, where as a Senior Managing Director he managed the non-US asset management businesses. He then moved to create and manage the family office for Lakshmi Mittal ( Chairman of Arcelor-Mittal, the world's largest steel producer) where, as Chief Investment Officer, he is responsible for the management of one of the largest pools of private wealth in the world.
Marianna Dominguez is a accomplished administrative assistant with extensive experience operating at Director level. She is skilled in organizing and managing international conferences and has successfully completed exams in French and Spanish.
Sarath Liyanage runs his own travel company, where he manages travel accounts for Bankers Trust, Commonwealth Organisations, International Planned Parenthood Federation and other prestigious commercial and non-commercial entities. He is a member of the Institute of Travel and Tourism and continues to contribute to many focus groups engaged in responsible tourism. A devoted fund raiser for charities and good causes, he is also an avid golfer and scuba diver and takes great interest in environmental issues.
