Dr Vidanage is currently the Director, International Relations Office (IRO) and Director Centre for Strategic Assessment (CSA). He was the first civilian to Head the department of Strategic Studies at KDU from 2020 – 2023.  Harinda Vidanage was formerly Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), prior to his assignment at the BCIS he was Assistant Professor of International Relations, St. Lawrence University, New York from 2012 – 2016.

Dr Vidanage is a Senior Fulbright Scholar receiving the highest Fulbright fellowship awarded by the United States Fulbright Commission. He gained his PhD from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom as an ORSAS and Principles Scholar. He graduated from University of Colombo Sri Lanka with First Class honors in Political Science.

Dr Vidanage is Member of the Board of Management of Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute (LKI), Honorary Fellow at Stratenewsglobal.com, and research fellow at Nepal Institute of International Cooperation (NIICE). Expert Member of the South Asia Cyber Security Governance review group of Geneva Centre for Security Governance (DECAF).

He was a lead academic in developing the curriculum for the newly established National Defence College in Sri Lanka (NDC). ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), HDUCIM coordinator for KDU and Sri Lanka

• PhD in Politics, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 2005 – 2009
• BA (Hons) Special Degree In Political Science. 2003 (First Class) University of Colombo

• Vidanage H (2023) A Shared Vision for the Indo Pacific: Implications for South Asia (Ed.) Colombo: KDU Press.
• Security Dilemmas of Small States in a Militarizing Indian Ocean Region: A Case Study of Sri Lanka’: European Scholars of South Asian International Relations (ESSAIR) Annual Conference June 2022
• Vidanage H (2021) Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean Identity in the 21st Century, in Chulanee Attanayake (Ed). Maritime Sri Lanka: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives Singapore: World Scientific.
• Vidanage Harinda (2019) Sri Lanka Confronts Islamist Violence. Nikkei Asia
  Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Sri-Lanka-confronts-Islamist-violence
• Vidanage, H (2017). Weaponization of Cyberspace: Strategic Implication. Defence and Security Journal, Volume 2, pp.56 -69
• Vidanage, H.(2015). Governance in times of the big data revolution: Sri Lanka’s options. Sri Lanka Journal of Development Administration, Vol.5, pp.1-14
• Vidanage, Harinda (2013) ‘Human Rights 2.0: Between Cyber Liberalization and Militarization. Vol 01 March 2013 New Horizons in Human Rights. CSHR.
• Vidanage, Harinda (2009) ‘Rivalry in cyberspace and virtual contours of a new conflict zone: The Sri-Lankan case’. In Athina Karatzogiani (Ed.) Cyber-conflict and Global Politics (Contemporary Security Studies) London: Routledge
• Changing global/regional security architectures and Security Discourse in Small States: Case of Sri Lanka. International Conference on Revisiting International Relations Critical reflection of 100 years (1919-2019). University of Dhaka, January 2020
• Changing South Asian Politics: Sri Lankan Perspective: 13th International South Asian Conference: National University of Singapore ISAS, September 2019
• Sri Lanka Indian Ocean identity in the 21st Century: Maritime Sri Lanka reclaiming Indian Ocean Identity (ISAS/NUS) 2018
• Weaponized Narratives and fake News implications on Sri Lanka seminar at Ministry of Defense Sri Lanka 2018
• Cyber Power and Cyber Strategy: Airforce Symposium 2016
• ‘Role of Cyber Space in Soft Power projection’, Colombo Defense Seminar (September 2016)
• ‘Cyber Crime and Trafficking’ SUNY Canton, April 2014 (Public Lecture)
• ‘Cyber Security & Super Region 2.0’ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CHANGING SOCIAL DYNAMICS IN SOUTH ASIA, Colombo Sri Lanka 18th August 2012 organized by BCIS Sri Lanka and ORF India.
• ‘Bioroid Century: Spectrum of Cyber Security and its Illusions’ University of St Lawrence, New York, The Contemporary Issues Forum talk on 6th March 2012.

• Book Launch : Bidens Indo Pacific Strategy: South Asian Perspectives 31 March 2023 Dr Harinda Vidanage Address IPS Book Launch (youtube.com)
• Strategic Dimension of the Indian Ocean Region: A Sri Lankan Perspective. Address to NDC India Delegation on the Invitation of Indian HC Sri Lanka held at MOD on 8 September 2023
• Moderated the Panel Discussion organized by the LKI, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka, hosted a seminar and panel discussion titled ‘Disaster Risk Management and Japan’s Role in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).’ 14 October 2023
• Harmonious Blend of Civil Military Education and its Contribution to peace, stability and resilience: A KDU Experience. ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) representing Heads of Defense Universities and Institutions Meeting. 1 August 2023
• Changing Global Dynamics: Implications for Sri Lanka, The inaugural LKI Foreign Policy Forum, titled “was held on Wednesday 9th August 2023 LKI Foreign Policy Forum – Changing Global Dynamics: Implications for Sri Lanka – The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute
• Global Security Landscape: Special Talk to Officers of Western Naval Command . 21 July 2023
• Ukraine Russia War : Military Strategic Dimension: Guest talk at Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) 7 June 2023 https://bcis.edu.lk/index.php/2023/06/18/bcis-panel-discussion-russia-ukraine-war-implications-for-south-asia/
• Regional Security and Small States. Speech made at conference on Ocean Governance and Maritime Security Opportunities. Organized by EU Sri Lanka and LKI. on Monday 8th May 2023
  https://lki.lk/eu-lki-host-conference-on-ocean-governance-and-maritime-security/
• Global Security Architecture and its evolution. Keynote speech at the book launch event of Col Nalin Herath’s Globe in a Nutshell. https://www.ocds.lk/content/%E2%80%98story-world%E2%80%99-launched
• Cyber Security: Sri Lankan Perspective . Cyber Security Governance in South Asia: Expert Workshop. June 2022. Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DECAF)
• Indo Pacific Strategy of European Union: A Small State Perspective: EU Mission in Sri Lanka and Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute (LKI) Joint Conference 2022
• A Small State Perspective of US Indo Pacific Strategy Under Joe Biden: International Conference Organized by the US Embassy in Sri Lanka in Partnership with KDU. 2022
• Global, Regional and National Security Implications of Russia Ukraine Conflict: Guest Talk at Security Salon: INSSSL 2022
• Rise of Asian Geopolitics and Terrorism Threshold. ANKASAM Turkey May 2021
• External and Internal Security Challenges to Sri Lanka. NICE Nepal March 2021
• Contemporary Security Challenges of a Small State: Perspectives from Sri Lanka. Department of International Relations South Asia University (Delhi) March 2021
• Geopolitics of Responsibility to Protect R2P. Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute (LKI) Sri Lanka February 2021

• Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (2016 – 2020 Oct)
• Assistant Professor International Politics, St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York (2012 – 2016)
• Director Academic/Research, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) 2009 – 2011
• Advisor to the H.E the President of Sri Lanka, International Affairs 2006 – 2010
• Advisor to The Prime Minister, Sri Lanka 2004 – 2005

• Teagle Award for designing online hybrid course delivery for New York 6 University Consortium (2014)
• Fulbright Scholar in Residence (2011 – 2012) St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York
• Overseas Research Scholarship (ORSAS) UK for PhD program 2005
• University of Edinburgh, College of Humanities and Social Science, Principal’s Scholarship for PhD study. (2005)
• Fulbright award for the study of American government (2004)

• International Politics
• International Security Studies
• Cyber Politics, Policy and Security
• Technology and Society
• Global Governance

• Honorary Fellow (Strategic Analysis) : StratnewsGlobal , Strategic Analysis platform for BharathShakthi India

• Visiting Fellow, Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE)

• Member International Studies Association (ISA)

• Fulbright Alumni