INSS Staff

Colonel Nalin Herath RSP is a distinguished Commissioned Officer with over 30 years of dedicated service in the Sri Lanka Army. His illustrious career has encompassed a wide range of roles, reflecting his exceptional leadership and management skills.
Currently, Colonel Nalin Herath serving as the Director Media & Spokesman at the Ministry of Defence in Sri Lanka, he oversees media relations, management, communications, and outreach activities. Throughout his tenure, has held key positions, including Staff Officer both at the local and United Nations levels, and instructor. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to thrive in challenging and complex environments.
Colonel Herath possesses extensive experience in fragile and conflict-affected states, gained through his participation in UN Peacekeeping Missions. His expertise further extends to training, institutional development, teaching international relations, advising senior leaders, operational planning, and security cooperation. As a motivational speaker and lecturer, he has shared his insights and knowledge with a wide audience.
His academic qualifications further bolster his expertise, including a Master's Degree in Management from Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights from the University of Colombo, a Post Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management from Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, a Certification in International Humanitarian Law (Theory & Practice) from Universiteit Leiden & Kalshoven-Gieskes, and a Global Diplomacy certification in Diplomacy in the Modern World from the University of London & SOAS University of London.
Colonel Nalin Herath, renowned for his illustrious military career, also shines as an eminent author. Among his notable literary accomplishments is the book "Globe in a Nutshell." Moreover, in March 2017, Colonel Herath's work garnered further recognition with the publication of its Sinhala translation, titled "විශ්වය අතමත" (Wishwaya Atamata), by MD Gunasena in Sri Lanka, and "Story of the World - Geopolitical Alliances and Rivalries Set in Stone," published by MD Gunasena in January 2023. His expertise extends to the management and leadership of multi-national and inter-agency teams, as well as the establishment of strategic partnerships.
Colonel Nalin Herath's remarkable career and diverse expertise make him a esteemed figure in the field of military and international affairs. His contributions to leadership, peacekeeping, and academia have been both impactful and commendable.

Nilmini Ulluwishewa is one of the pioneer members of the Institute of National Security Studies and she is a double Masters’ degree holder. As Director (Administration), she is responsible for executing all matters relating to Administration, Human Resource and Finance functions of the Institute. She has over 6 years’ experience in Public Sector and 14 years in Private Sector where she worked in Project Management & Investment Banking. She has vast experience and strong process knowledge in areas such as Administration, Human Resource, Project Management, Back Office Operations and Finance. She is compassionate and very interested in charity work in education for children who are less fortunate.

Charani Patabendige is an Acting Research Analyst and a Research Assistant at the Institute of National Security Studies, Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka. She is presently mentoring interns and research assistants, she is a keen researcher and a helpful supervisor for students. A versatile and self-motivated individual who topped the batch in Masters in Conflict and Peace Studies with the only Distinction of batch 2022-2023 year from the University of Colombo. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws degree with a second class from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. She holds a Distinction pass in Advanced Diploma in Transitional Justice conducted by the Bandaranaike Center for International Studies. She is also a member of the committee member for the "Review and Finalize Proposed Sri Lanka’s National Defence Policy". As a landmark achievement, she presented a paper titled, “Analyzing the Polluter Pays Principle: Enhancing Environmental Governance and Fostering Corporate Accountability in Sri Lanka” at the Environmental Security Workshop by Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies from 22-24 April 2024 in Washington, DC, United States of America. She represented Sri Lanka in the “NESAAFRICOM Workshop Series Changing Nature of Security, Transnational Threats Know No Boundaries, The Women’s Revolution: Life, Liberty, And Freedom in Bangkok, Thailand from 29th April – 7th May 2023. She also participated in Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA) Climate Change and Security Senior Executive Seminar from 14th to18th November 2022 in Washington, DC (Virtual) and participated in Women, Peace and Security Round Table by Invite only by Near East South Asia Center on 5th December 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. She also represented Sri Lanka at the ‘International Scientific-Practical Conference on Regional Security in Asia in the Context of Preventing New Challenges and Threats’ conducted by the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) organized by the Republic of Kazakhstan on the 14th of July 2021. She is also serving in the capacity of Honorary Associate Research Fellow. She is presently a member of the National Authority to Prevent Violent Extremism. She has a plethora of international and national publications. Her publication timelines showcase her career and personal improvement, a testament to her diverse research interests.