my-profile
Contact
+94715364034
nilanga.a@sliit.lk
Dr. Nilanga Abeysinghe
Head | School of Psychology
Faculty of Humanities & Sciences | School of Psychology
Career Summary
- Assistant Professor / Head - School of Psychology
- Visiting lecturer - Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo - 2010 to date
- Counselling Psychologist - 2006 to date
- Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, SAITM 2013 - 2018
- Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology 2012 - 2013
- Programme officer - Mental Health - VSO Sri Lanka 2006 - 2008 /2010 - 2012
- Research Officer - Peace Unit, CHA Sri Lanka - 2005 - 2006
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD, University of Colombo (2021)
- Master of Counselling, Victoria University, Melbourne (2019 - 2020)
- MSc: Issues in Applied Psychology (Clinical and Abnormal Psychology), University of Worcester, UK (2008 -2009)
- BA (First Class Hons) Psychology, University of Peradeniya (2001 - 2005)
- Diploma in Counselling, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya (2004 - 2005)
- ICTHE, SAITM (2015 - 2017)
- ICTHE, SLIIT (2021 - 2022)
HONOURS AND AWARDS
- Australia Awards Scholarship: 2-year Full scholarship for Master of Counselling course at Victoria University, Melbourne 2019 – 2020
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship to University of Worcester, UK: Full Scholarship for master's level studies in Psychology 2008-2009
- University Scholarship (University of Peradeniya): Academic Excellence at the Bachelor of Arts Examination 2004/2005 [Best Results in Psychology with First Class Pass]
Research Interests and Memberships
Research Interests
- Common factors in Counselling
- Shyness
- Death and death-related anxiety
- Group dynamics
Memberships
- Sri Lanka Psychological Association
- Australian Counselling Association: International Member (IN1522)
- Professional Counsellors Association of Sri Lanka: Secretary (Membership # 170075)
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Advisory Panel Member [2021 – 2023]
- Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLASS)
- Sri Lanka Association of Australia Awards Alumni (SLAAAA)
Ongoing Research
- The role of common factors in counselling in determining therapist competency in Sri Lanka
My Publications
Journal Publications
- Schaller, M. & Abeysinghe A.M.N.D " "Geographical Frame of Reference and Dangerous Intergroup Attitudes: A Double-Minority Study in Sri Lanka" " Political Psychology, vol.27, Issue 4, 2006, pp.615-631, 10.1111/j.1467-9221.2006.00521.x,
- Abeysinghe, N. " Improving the understanding of safe-sex behaviours with the use of two models in health psychology " Senior Professor Kulasena Vidanagamage Felicitation Volume, 2016, pp.252-261,
Book Chapters
- Ekanayake, E.S., Abeysinghe N. " Drawing in or ruling out "Family?" – The evolution of the Family Systems Approach in Sri Lanka " Charles, L., Samarasinghe, G., Family System and Global Humanitarian Mental Health: Approaches in the Filed, Cham, 2019, Springer, pp.99 -121,
- Abeysinghe, N., & Ekanayake, E.S. " Where ethics and culture collide: Dilemmas in training and delivery of counselling services in Sri Lanka " Dyer, Allen R., Kohr, Brandon, & Philip J., Global Mental Health Ethics, Cham, 2021, Springer, pp.111-122,
Books
- Abeysinghe, N., Dressel, D., Jaleel, F., Kulathunga, S., Sarveswaran, K., Thaheer, M. " Supporting an Enabling Environment for Peace in Sri Lanka (Peace Audit 2006)." Colombo, Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, 2006, pp.123,
- Abeysinghe, N. Kulathunga, S. " Psychological First Aid: Guide for Field Workers, by the World Health Organisation in 2011(Sinhala Translation)." https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44615, WHO, 2013, pp.73,
Conference Presentations
- Abeysinghe, A. M. N. D, Ekanayake, E.S. " Family systems therapy in Sri Lanka during and after COVID 19 Lecture, at Global Family Systems and Psychosocial Resilience webinar series, Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund, 2020
- Abeysinghe, A. M. N. D., Kohrt, B. A., Galappatti, A. " Role of common factors in counselling in determining therapist competency in Sri Lanka Presentation, at University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2017
- Abeysinghe, A.M.N.D. & Atapattu, M.G. " Humour as an Effective Pedagogical Tool in Sri Lanka Presentation, at International Research Symposium 2017, Uwa Wellassa University, Badulla, Sri Lanka, 2017
- Abeysinghe, A.M.N.D " Essential Therapeutic Skills for Mental Health Practitioners: Adaptation of the Enhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic (ENACT) Factors Scale in Sri Lanka Presentation, at 31st International Congress of Psychologists (ICP 2016) in Yokohama, Japan, 2016
- Abeysinghe, A.M.N.D. " On culture and shyness: A cross-cultural study comparing shyness in Great Britain and Sri Lanka Presentation, at Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Sciences (67th annual session), Colombo , 2011
- Abeysinghe, A.M.N.D. " Loss, Death and Grieving in Sri Lankan Context Lecture, at Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Kalutara, 2008
English
Sinhala
Tamil
