UNU Council Members
Jayantha Dhanapala
Chair of Council; former Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations, New York; former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva
As a Sri Lankan diplomat, Jayantha Dhanapala, served in London, Beijing, Washington D.C. and New Delhi before being appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva (1984-87) and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the USA (1995-97). As an international civil servant he was Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (1987-92) and Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs (1998-2003).
He graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) degree from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and an M.A. in International Studies from the American University, Washington D.C. He has been awarded four honorary doctorates from Universities in Sri Lanka, U.S.A. and U.K. He has published four books and several articles in international journals. He is currently Chair of the UN University Council and President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs in addition to being a member of the governing and Advisory Boards of several international bodies in the areas of peace, disarmament and international security.
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Page last modified 2008.03.25.
