Rate My Professor Wasantha Priyadarshana

Senior Professor Wasantha Priyadarshana serves as the Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies (PGIPBS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, having assumed duties on 21 November 2025. With over two decades of academic and professional experience as a senior academic in the Department of Buddhist Culture, his qualifications include a PhD from PGIPBS, University of Kelaniya (2008), Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies with Distinction from the University of Kelaniya (2001–2002), Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Career Counselling from the University of Colombo (2002–2004), Bachelor of Arts Special Degree in Buddhist Culture (First Class) from the University of Kelaniya, and Diploma in Buddhism from the Buddhist and Pāli University of Sri Lanka (1998). He previously served as Head of the Department of Buddhist Culture at PGIPBS (2009–2015), Coordinator of the Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s programs in Buddhist Āyurvedic Counseling (2014–2023), Coordinator of the Sri Lankan Government Scholarship for Foreign Students (2012–2016), President of the PGIPBS Welfare Association (2009–2011), and Member of the Faculty Board of the Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka (2007–2015).

Senior Professor Priyadarshana's research primarily focuses on Buddhist Psychotherapy, Psychology, Buddhist Counselling, and Early Buddhist Teachings. He teaches courses at PGIPBS such as Basic Doctrines of Early Buddhism, Buddhist Psychotherapy, Buddhist Meditation II (Therapeutic Application), and counselling methods for psychological issues. He has held visiting appointments including Visiting Professor for the MA in Buddhist Studies at the Buddha-Dharma Centre of Hong Kong (October 2024), Professor of Buddhist Psychotherapy at the Sitagū Ketumati Buddhist Academy in Myanmar (since 2023), Visiting Professor of Buddhist Psychology at the Singapore Buddhist and Pali College (2023–present) and Malaysian Buddhist Academy (since 2022), Visiting Assistant Professor at the Centre of Buddhist Studies, University of Hong Kong (2020), Visiting Professor of Buddhist Psychology at the Dhammaduta Buddhist University of Myanmar (2019), and Visiting Lecturer in Buddhist Counselling and Psychology at several Sri Lankan universities. He has supervised a wide range of MA, MPhil, and PhD dissertations, participated in seminars, workshops, and conferences as a speaker, served on the Academic Committee of PGIPBS and as an International Member of the American Psychological Association (2024), and acted as a book reviewer. Key publications include "Buddhism As a System of Psychotherapy" (2017), "Psychotherapeutic Value of Visuddhimagga for the Enhancement of Modern Psychotherapy," "Dharma Therapy in Buddhism: A Buddhist Psychological Review on Counselling and Psychotherapy," and "Grief Management in Buddhism for Human Development" (2018).