Prof. Athula Ekanayake

Professor in Accounting

Academic Qualifications

PhD:
Doctor of Philosophy, 2011, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia Thesis- The Role of Accounting in Corporate Governance of Banks in a Developing Country: Evidence from Sri Lanka
Master's:
Master of Business Administration (MBA), GPA - 3.56, 2005, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Thesis- Risk Exposure of the Investors within the Financial Sector in Sri Lanka
Bachelor's:
B.Sc. Business Administration (Special) Degree with a first class honors, 1994, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

Areas of Teaching

• Accounting
• Corporate Governance

Research Interests

• Accounting
• Corporate Governance
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Environmental Reporting
• Sustainability Accounting

Publications and Research Projects

• Nuskiya, M.N.F., Ekanayake, A., Beddewela, E. and Meftah Gerged, A. (2021), "Determinants of corporate environmental disclosures in Sri Lanka: the role of corporate governance", Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 367-394.
• Wijethilake, C., Ekanayake, A. (2020). CEO duality and firm performance: the moderating roles of CEO informal power and board involvements. Social Responsibility Journal. ahead-of-print. 10.1108/SRJ-12-2018-0321.
• Nuskiya, M.N.F., Ekanayake, A., (2019). “Trends in Climate Risk Disclosures in the Insurance Companies of Sri Lanka”. The Journal of Applied Research, Vol 03, pp. 141-157
• Ekanayake, A. (2018). “Validity of Traditional State University Governance Mechanisms in Sri Lanka”, The IUP Journal of Corporate Governance, Vol. XVII, No. 3, 2018, pp.54-59.
• Dissanayake, D.M.M.B., Ekanayake, A. (2018). “Decision Usefulness of Corporate Environmental Reporting and Firm Performance: Evidence from Sri Lanka”. The IUP Journal of Accounting Research & Audit Practices, Vol. XVII, No. 3. pp. 7-23.
• Wijethilake, C., Ekanayake, A. (2018). “Proactive Strategic Responses to Corporate Sustainability Pressures: A Sustainability Control System Framework”, Advances in Management Accounting (AIMA). Volume 30. pp. 129-173.
• Kuruppuge, R.H., Ekanayake, A., Nedelea, A.M., (2018). “Family Power in Governance of Family Businesses: Cases From Sri Lanka”, ECOFORUM. Volume 07, Issue 01(14). pp. 43-53.
• Ekanayake, A. (2018). “Action at a Distance: Accounting Inscriptions and Corporate Governance of a Public Sector Bank in a Developing Country”, Asian Review of Accounting. Volume 26, Issue 1. pp. 39-61.
• Ekanayake, A., Kuruppuge, R.H. (October 2017). “Governance of Family Owned Businesses and Firm Performance: Evidence From Sri Lanka”, International Journal of Management, Accounting and Economics (IJMAE). Volume 04, Issue 10. pp. 1020-1039.
• Wijethilake, C., Ekanayake, A. (2016). “Boardroom Communication and Financial Performance”. Journal of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities. Volume 1, Issue 1. pp. 1-22.
• Kuruppuge, R.H., Ekanayake, A. (2016). “An Analytical Model to Explain the Governance of Family Owned Businesses”, Journal of Intercultural Management. Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 51-69.
• Mudalige, N., Ekanayake, A. (2015). “The Influence of Corporate Governance on Capital Structure of Listed Companies in Sri Lanka”, Modern Sri Lanka Studies Journal, Vol. VI, Issue 01, pp.33-45
• Wijethilake, C., Ekanayake, A., Perera, S. (2015) “Board Involvement in Corporate Performance: Evidence from a Developing Country”, Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies. Vol. 4, Issue 1.
• Ekanayake, A. (2014), “Validity and Reliability in Case Study Research in Accounting: A Review & Experience”, Modern Sri Lanka Studies Journal, Vol. V, Issue 01 & 02.
• Ekanayake, A. and Perera, S. (2014), “The role of accounting in corporate governance in a developing country: Institutional political economy perspective", International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation. Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 109-132.
• Ekanayake, A. (2013), “Accounting in Corporate Governance of a Commercial Bank in Sri Lanka: A Multi-Theoretical Perspective”, Modern Sri Lanka Studies Journal, Vol. IV, Issue 02.
• Ekanayake, A., Perera, H., and Perera, S. (2009), “Towards a framework to analyse the role of accounting in corporate governance in the banking sector", Journal of Applied Management Accounting Research, Vol. 7, No. 2.

• “Board Involvement and Corporate Performance: Evidence from Sri Lanka” (With Chaminda Wijethilake) at the 6th Management Accounting Research Conference,in Equotarial Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, March 2012. “Uses of Accounting in Corporate Governance: A Comparative Study of a Public and a Private Sector Bank in Sri Lanka” (with Sujatha Perera and Hector Perera) at the 1st International Conference on the Social Sciences and the Humanities, in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, December 2011.
• “Undertaking Case Study Research in Accounting: Sharing an Experience” at the 6th International Research Conference on Management and Finance, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 2011.
• “Accounting in Corporate Governance: Evidence from a Commercial Bank in Sri Lanka” (with Sujatha Perera and Hector Perera) at the 22nd Asian-Pacific Conference on International Accounting Issues in Gold Coast, Australia, November 2010.
• “Contextual Relativity of the Role of Accounting in Corporate Governance” (with Sujatha Perera and Hector Perera) at the 6th Asia Pacific Interdisciplinary Research in Accounting Conference in Sydney, Australia, July 2010.
• “Accounting and Corporate Governance in the Banking Industry: Case Study of a Public Sector Bank in Sri Lanka” (with Sujatha Perera and Hector Perera) at the 50th Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, July 2010.
• “Accounting and Corporate Governance Environment within the Banking Industry in Sri Lanka” at the 4th International Research Conference on Management and Finance, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 2009.
• “Towards a Framework to Explain the Role of Accounting in Corporate Governance: With Special Reference to the Banking Sector in Sri Lanka” (with Hector Perera and Sujatha Perera) at the 20th Asian-Pacific Conference on International Accounting Issues, in Paris, France, November 2008.

Direct Contact

Office Email athulae@pdn.ac.lk

Office Phone +9481 239 4011

Memberships & Awards

• Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (2447).
• Professor Lenus Silva Gold Medal, 1994
• Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (MQRES), 2007 - 2011
• Macquarie University Postgraduate Research Fund (PGRF)
• University of Peradeniya Research Grant (with R. H. Kuruppuge), 2014
• University of Peradeniya Research Grant (with M. Gunathilake & N. Mudalige), 2017

Current Appointments

• On sabbatical leave

Previous Appointments

• Dean, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya
• Head, Department of Business Finance, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya.
• Chairperson, Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya.
• Chairperson, Faculty Academic Development & Planning Committee, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya.
• Chairperson, Faculty Students’ Admission & Requests Committee, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya.
• Chairperson, Senior Students Counselors of the Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya.
• Secretary, Board of Study – Economics & Management, Postgraduate Institute of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Peradeniya.
• Member, Board of Study – Science, Centre for Distance & Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya.
• Member, Board of Study in Accounting & Finance of the National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities & Social Sciences (NCAS).
• Member, Career Guidance Advisory Board, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
• Member, Faculty Research Committee, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
• Member, Faculty Land & Building Management Committee, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
• Co-Editor, Peradeniya Management Review, The Journal of the Faculty of Management.
• Head, Department of Operations Management, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya.
• Deputy Director – Learning Resources, Centre for Distance & Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya (June 2014 – July, 2015)
• Member, Publication Committee, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2013 – 2015)
• Member, Board of Management, Center for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2013 – 2015)
• Coordinator – Activity 03 (Enhancing Learning Resources & Learner Support Service under EDP Grant of the HETC Project, 2014
• Member, Staff Development Centre Planning Committee, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2012
• Member, Editorial Board, Peradeniya University Research Sessions, 2011 (PURSE); 2014 (iPURSE)
• Co-Editor, Modern Sri Lanka Studies: The Journal of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2013 – 2015)
• Member, Faculty Academic Development and Planning Committee, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2011 – 2014)
• Chairperson, Board of Study – Management Studies, Center for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2013 – 2014)
• Member, Coordinating Committee – Diploma Programs, Center for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2013 – 2015)
• Member, Faculty Staff Development Committee, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2014
• Convener, Faculty Internship Program, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2014
• Member, Faculty Students’ Admissions & Requests Committee, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2014
• Faculty Internship Coordinator, Faculty of Management, 2015
• Internship Coordinator, Department of Management Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2011 – 2014)