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Anna Weerakoon Karunatilleke | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 12, 1988 Moscow, Russia |
| Occupation | Marine engineer · Consultant · Researcher |
| Known for | First Sri Lankan female marine engineers; gender inclusion in maritime sector |
Anna Weerakoon Karunatilleke (born 12 March 1988) is a Sri Lankan marine engineer, maritime consultant, and academic researcher. She is recognised as the first woman to qualify as a marine engineer in Sri Lanka and has been noted for her contributions to gender inclusion within the maritime industry.[1][2]
She was profiled in the 2025 national report Inclusion of Women in the Sri Lankan Maritime Industry, published by Maritime SheEO and the CEYLINE Group, and was appointed Sri Lanka's Ambassador for Maritime SheEO in 2026.[1][2]
Early life and education
editKarunatilleke was born on 12 March 1988 in Moscow to a Sri Lankan father and a Ukrainian mother, and was raised in Sri Lanka.[1] She received her maritime training at the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC), where she obtained a Class III Engineering Watch Officer certificate, becoming the first woman in Sri Lanka to qualify as a marine engineer.[1]
She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration at the University of Kelaniya.[3]
Career
editKarunatilleke began her professional career as an engine cadet on board the vessels MCS Florida and Delmas Zambia before working in shore-based roles at Colombo Dockyard Limited and at Seagulf Consultancy / CML–MTD Walkers, where she was involved in quality planning and dry-docking operations.[1]
In 2017, she founded AWK Industries (Pvt) Ltd, a consultancy supporting shipyards and marine tourism initiatives. She later served as a director at Maritime Vista (Pvt) Ltd, a maritime training provider for seafarers.[4]
She has also been involved in organising national maritime-sector events, including Boat Show 2023 and the Investor Conference for Marine Tourism, in collaboration with Sri Lankan government stakeholders.[1]
In 2026, Karunatilleke was appointed as Sri Lanka's Ambassador for Maritime SheEO, an international initiative focused on advancing women's leadership and participation in the maritime industry. Her appointment was featured in the Sri Lankan national newspaper The Island.[2]
Research and publications
editKarunatilleke's research focuses on occupational health, gender inclusion, risk perception, and risk management within the maritime industry. Her peer-reviewed and conference publications include:
- Unconscious bias among seafarers: A review of the theoretical literature, Pomorstvo – Scientific Journal of Maritime Research, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 67–81 (2024).[5]
- Risk perceptions and risk management in maritime vessels: Seafarers' perspectives, CINEC International Research Symposium (2023).[6]
- Labour Compensation Strategies and Practices of the Maritime Industry: Discussion on Critical Cases, Economics and Society Journal, vol. 38 (2022).[7]
Her professional and mentoring activities related to gender inclusion in maritime employment are documented in the Maritime SheEO 2025 national report.[1]
Awards and recognition
editKarunatilleke has received recognition at international academic events, including the International Conference on Sustainable and Digital Business 2024, where her paper titled Bridging the Waves: Gender Dynamics and Career Experiences among Women Seafarers received acknowledgment.[8]
Advocacy
editReferences
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External links
edit- https://maritimesheeo.com
- https://island.lk/anna-weerakoon-karunatilleke-as-sri-lankas-ambassador-for-maritime-sheeo/
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anna-Weerakoon-Karunatilleke
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-karunatilleke-9565b032/
Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Sri Lankan engineers Category:Marine engineers Category:Women engineers
- ↑ Inclusion of Women in the Sri Lankan Maritime Industry – A 2025 Study (Report). Colombo: Maritime SheEO and CEYLINE Group. 2025. pp. 59–63. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Anna Weerakoon Karunatilleke as Sri Lanka's Ambassador for Maritime SheEO". The Island. Sri Lanka: Upali Newspapers. 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ Karunatilleke, Anna Weerakoon (2024). "Unconscious bias among seafarers: A review of the theoretical literature". Pomorstvo – Scientific Journal of Maritime Research. 38 (1): 67–81. doi:10.31217/p.38.1.6. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ Karunatilleke, Anna Weerakoon (2023). Risk perceptions and risk management in maritime vessels: Seafarers' perspectives. CINEC International Research Symposium. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ Karunatilleke, Anna Weerakoon (2022). "Labour Compensation Strategies and Practices of the Maritime Industry: Discussion on Critical Cases". Economics and Society. 38. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Anna W. Karunatilleke – University of Kelaniya". Academia.edu. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Biography Archives – Best Paper Awards". Best Paper Awards. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Anna Weerakoon Karunatilleke – ResearchGate". ResearchGate. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Anna Weerakoon Karunatilleke – LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
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