Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Prof. Pathmalal Manage (right) conferring the Distinguished Visiting Professor and Honorary Fellow appointment to Prof. Patrick Mendis
Prof. Patrick Mendis, the Sri Lanka-born strategist, scholar, and diplomat who rose from humble beginnings in Polonnaruwa to the highest levels of international diplomacy, is set to meet corporate and national leaders this October. A Harvard-educated global figure, Prof. Mendis will serve as the keynote speaker at the 46th National Conference of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, addressing the theme “Uprise—Navigating Geopolitics for Growth: Sri Lanka’s Strategic Play.”
This prestigious event, to be held on 8–9 October in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, will draw over 2,500 business and accounting professionals, with an additional 500 executives joining remotely from Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. His visit comes at a pivotal moment as Sri Lanka navigates an uncertain global environment while seeking economic stability and strategic growth.
A Global Journey Rooted in Sri Lanka
Born in Polonnaruwa, Prof. Mendis’ early leadership was evident—he became a top Army Cadet Corps commander, a sports champion, and the first recipient of a UNESCO award while still a student. His childhood in a UNESCO World Heritage city, under the influence of both Catholic priests and Buddhist monks, shaped his unique ability to bridge cultures and foster dialogue.
He later earned first-class honours in business administration and economics from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and pursued graduate studies at the University of Minnesota and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Selected from over 100,000 Sri Lankan applicants, he travelled to the US as a high school exchange student under the American Field Service program, sponsored by the US State Department—a transformative opportunity that opened doors to his global career.
Service Across the World Stage
Prof. Mendis has held leadership roles across the US government, the United Nations, the World Bank, and NATO. He served on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the Reagan administration, became an award-winning diplomat under President Bill Clinton, managed global educational programs for the State Department under President George W. Bush, was appointed UNESCO commissioner by President Barack Obama, and most recently served as a presidential advisor on the National Security Education Board under President Joe Biden.
He has worked in or visited over 100 countries, authored more than 250 publications, and taught at universities including Yale, Columbia, and Harvard, while maintaining deep ties with China, where he taught at Fudan, Peking, and Tsinghua universities, earning the International Confucius Award.
Service Back Home and to the Diaspora
Beyond his global achievements, Prof. Mendis has remained a strong supporter of Sri Lanka. He founded the Educate Lanka Foundation, providing scholarships for Sri Lankan students and microloans to entrepreneurs in 50 countries. He also contributed to The Encyclopedia of the Sri Lankan Diaspora and has lectured at institutions across the island, including the University of Colombo, the Kadirgamar Institute, and the Defence University.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions, the Sri Lanka Foundation in Los Angeles awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award, while Who’s Who in America honoured him with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bridging East and West for Sri Lanka’s Future
Prof. Mendis’ story is one of education, leadership, and vision. From a rice field in rural Polonnaruwa to the corridors of global power, his journey demonstrates the transformative power of knowledge. His upcoming address in Sri Lanka is not only a reminder of his personal legacy but also a call for Sri Lanka to seize opportunities in geopolitics, strengthen public-private partnerships, and chart a resilient economic future.
Prof. Patrick Mendis represents the voice of a global Sri Lankan who never forgot his roots while shaping international policy at the highest levels. His visit this October will remind Sri Lankans that education, transparency, and strategic diplomacy remain the keys to global relevance and national growth.
Courtesy: Contents of this article, by Prof. Chandana Gunathilaka, was originally published in the Daily Financial Times.
