Dr. S. Maheswaran

Dr. S. Maheswaran

(Head of the Department) Senior Lecturer Grade I

Academic Qualifications

  • PhD:
    Doctor of Philosophy, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway Thesis: The Rise of Social Enterprises in Low Trust Situations: A Study of Non- profit Organizations’ survival strategies in Eastern Sri Lanka
  • Master's:
    Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Thesis: Employee Empowerment Practices in University Systems in Sri Lanka
  • Bachelor's:
    B.Com (Honous) Degree with a second class upper division, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • Diploma:
    Postgraduate Diploma in Distance Education (PGDDE), IGNOU, New Delhi

Areas of Teaching

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Global Production Networks
  • Principles of Operations Management
  • Development and entrepreneurship
  • Project Management

Research Interests

  • Global Production Network
  • ‘Space’ & ‘Place’ in the context of Operations Management and Facility Location Analysis
  • Humanitarian Operations
  • Business for Peace
  • Social Enterprises and Sustainability Discourse

Publications and Research Projects

  • Maheswaran, S. (2025). Cross-Sectoral Knowledge Spillover for Social Innovation in an Apparel Value Chain in B2B Industry: A Perception of an Incumbent Company in the Global South. South Asian Journal of Business and Management Case (Accepted).
  • Samaranayake, D.I.J., Maheswaran, S., & Mithursan, A. (2024). Social Enterprise Intention of Non-STEM University Students: Experimental Evidence. https://doi.org/10.31357/jbri.v10i1.7550
  • Mithursan, A., Fernando, N.T.K.P., Samaranayake, D.I.J., & Maheswaran, S. (2024). Towards a Paradigm Shift with Neuro-Entrepreneurship Education: A Lesson for Developing Asian Nations. KJMS, 6(1), 81–94. https://doi.org/10.4038/kjms.v6i1.112
  • Sukenya, G. F., & Maheswaran, S. (2025). Mapping the challenges of Young Entrepreneurship in Agro-based MSMEs: Evidence from the Northern Province of Sri Lanka during the time of economic crisis, published full paper at ICBM 2025.
  • Sukenya, G. F., & Maheswaran, S. (2025). Locally Embedded Survival Strategies of Agriculture-Based MSMEs: Evidence from the Northern Province of Sri Lanka During the Economic Crisis, published full paper at ICBM 2025.
  • Maheswaran, S. (2016). Social Entrepreneurship: A New Model for Inclusive Recovery in Post-War Situations. Published full paper in the Proceedings of the 26th Asian Economic Symposium.
  • Sukenya, S., Nuskiya, F., & Maheswaran, S. (2021). A Framework for Blended Value Accounting: Determinants, Dynamics, and Process. Proceedings of Sri Lankan Social Enterprise Summit.
  • Kodithuwakku, S., Nuskiya, F., & Maheswaran, S. (2021). Legitimizing Financial Cooperatives: Reporting and Compliance of Cooperative Rural Banks. Proceedings of Sri Lankan Social Enterprise Summit.
  • Egodawele, M., Jinadasa, S., & Maheswaran, S. (2021). Enablers and Inhibitors of Promoting Social Entrepreneurial Education in Sri Lankan State Universities. Proceedings of Sri Lankan Social Enterprise Summit.
  • Seneviratne, Y.Y., & Maheswaran, S. (2021). Social Enterprise Models in Developing Countries. Proceedings of Sri Lankan Social Enterprise Summit.
  • Tharmila, T., & Maheswaran, S. (2020). Institutional Void as Business Opportunities: Agro-Based Enterprises in Jaffna. Proceedings of Peradeniya International Research Session.
  • Maheswaran, S. (2016). The Rise of Social Enterprises in Low-Trust Situations: A Study of Non-Profit Organizations’ Strategy in Post-War and Post-Disaster Situations (PhD Thesis).
  • Maheswaran, S. (2025). Social Entrepreneurship Cases in Sri Lanka
  • Maheswaran, S. (2025). The Rise of Social Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries
  • Manoeuvring in Low-Trust Situations: Individuals’ Relational Ties for the Survival of Non-Profit Organizations in Post-Civil War Eastern Sri Lanka – Journal of Development Forum (Revised & Resubmitted)
  • Creating Something from Nothing: The Dawn of Social Enterprises in Low-Trust Institutional Settings – Journal of Entrepreneurship (Revised & Resubmitted)
  • Inclusive Market or New Form of Domination? Distributed Agency and Mutuality in Social Entrepreneurship in Low-Trust Contexts – Journal of Cooperative Organization and Management (Revised and resubmitted)
  • Maheswaran, S., & Brun, C. (2025). Integrated Entrepreneurship in a Low-Trust Setting: Youth Engagement for Social Transformation in Post-Conflict Eastern Sri Lanka – Journal of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development (Revised and resubmitted)
  • Supervised 1 PhD student (completed); 3 ongoing
  • Supervised 08 MBA/MSc theses (completed); 08 ongoing

Direct Contact

mahessiva@mgt.pdn.ac.lk

Memberships & Awards

  • ISLE Fellowship 2010-2013, NCAS Scholarship 2010-2013, Quota Scholarship for PhD Students in Norway