Palitha Udayakantha
Palitha Udayakantha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Panik Mudiyanselage Palitha Udayakantha |
| Alma mater | University of Ruhuna, Ohio State University |
| Occupation | Surveyor |
| Title | Surveyor General of Sri Lanka |
| Term | 30 May 2014 – May 2019 |
| Predecessor | Nihal Gunawardena |
| Successor | S. M. P. P. Sangakkara |
Palitha Udayakantha was the 47th Surveyor General of Sri Lanka, serving in office between 2014 and 2019.[1]
Udayakantha received his primary and secondary education at Galagedara primary school and Nugawela Central College respectively.[2] He graduated from the University of Ruhuna with a degree in physical science, before joining the Survey Department of Sri Lanka in 1983, as an Assistant Superintendent of Surveys.[3] He obtained a higher diploma in surveying from the Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Diyatalawa, and was awarded a gold medal by the Sri Lanka Surveyors Institute for his achievements. In 1988 he obtained a master's degree in geodetic science from Ohio State University.[3][4]
Udayakantha was also a lecturer at the Institute of Surveying and Mapping, and later served as a senior assistant secretary at the Ministry of Land and Land Development, where he contributed to improving land registration and to developing the Bim Saviya programme.[5][6] On 24 August 2007 he was registered as a surveyor by the Land Survey Council of Sri Lanka.[7]
While working as senior deputy surveyor general (mapping), he was also a member of the editorial committee of Sri Lanka National Atlas and initiated programmes to expedite mapping activities.[8]
In March 2014 he was appointed the vice-chairman of the Land Survey Council and subsequently elevated to chairman in May.[9]
Udayakantha took up the role of Surveyor General of Sri Lanka on 30 May 2014, succeeding Nihal Gunawardena.[3] He was a member of the National Steering Committee which oversaw the establishment of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, a website for facilitating online access to geo-spatial information in Sri Lanka.[10]
He retired in March 2019 and was replaced by S. M. P. P. Sangakkara.[11]
Publications
- Madarasinghe, S. K., Yapa, Kanthi, Udayakantha, P.M.P., Satyanarayana, B. (2024). Land-use and land cover changes along the coastal belt of Hambantota district, southern Sri Lanka, over the period 1996- 2017 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. 51. 10.4038/jnsfsr.v51i4.11286.
- Madarasinghe, S. K., Yapa, Kanthi, Satyanarayana, Behara, Udayakantha, P. M. P., Kodikara Kas, Loku Pulukkuttige (2020). Inland Irrigation Project Causes Disappearance of Coastal Lagoon: The Trajectory of Kalametiya Lagoon, Sri Lanka from 1956 to 2016 Coastal Management. 48. 1-22. 10.1080/08920753.2020.1747914.
- Madarasinghe, S. k., Yapa, Kanthi, Satyanarayana, Behara, Udayakantha, P. M. P., Kodikara, Kas, Loku Pulukkuttige, Jayatissa. (2018). Current Extent and Distribution of Mangrove Cover in the Southern Coastal Belt of Sri Lanka – A Field Validated Remote Sensing Study.
References
- ^ "History". Survey Department of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "P.M.P. Udayakantha appointed Surveyor General". Daily Mirror. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Udayakantha new Surveyor General". The Sunday Times. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "The Ohio State University 303rd Commencement" (PDF). Ohio State University. 18 March 1988.
- ^ Ratnasabapathy, Ravi (11 November 2018). "Understanding the MCC land project". The Daily News. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Diaspora Tamils have to reapply for land deeds". Tamil Guardian. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "All Registered Surveyor Details". Land Survey Council of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Sri Lanka map: Survey Dept. completes revision work of over 60%". Daily Mirror. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Land Survey Council 2015 Annual Report" (PDF). Parliament of Sri Lanka. 2015.
- ^ "ICTA launches National Spatial Data Infrastructure". Sunday Observer. 27 January 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "48th Surveyor General appointed". The Daily News. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2024.