Dr. Tharindu Attanayake
Lecturer, School of Business
Dr Tharindu Attanayake is a full-time Lecturer in Accounting at CIHE, teaching foundational to advanced units in accounting, finance, auditing, and broader business disciplines across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. He has more than a decade of combined academic and industry experience and is committed to designing transformative, practice-oriented learning experiences that help students interpret financial and non-financial information for better decision-making.
He holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Finance, a Master of Professional Accounting, and a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Finance, complemented by further qualifications in project management and computerised accounting. A fellow member of the Institute of Public Accountants (FIPA, FFA), Dr Attanayake brings strong expertise in budgeting, financial forecasting, variance analysis, and end-to-end financial operations, and has led initiatives that support student success, academic integrity, and adherence to higher education quality standards.
Dr Attanayake’s research sits at the intersection of accounting, technology, sustainability, and governance. His doctoral thesis, “Sustainability Accounting in International Trade: A Comparison between South Asia and Oceania,” examines how sustainability considerations are incorporated into international trade and reporting practices. He has published and presented work on technological connectivity in integrated financial management, the impact of coronavirus on international trade relations, and ethical issues in corporate finance, as well as emerging research on artificial intelligence, machine learning, the future of auditing, the impact of generative AI on international business, and AI governance in higher education.
At CIHE, Dr Attanayake teaches a wide range of business units, predominantly financial and management accounting, finance, auditing, and other business subjects as required. He was recognised with a Teaching Excellence Award in 2025 for innovative, engaging, and inclusive teaching practices that respond to diverse learner needs and evolving expectations in the higher education sector.