Prof. Udayanga Hemapala is a distinguished academic, engineer, and energy sector leader in Sri Lanka. He currently serves as the Secretary to the Ministry of Energy, where he is instrumental in guiding the country’s transition toward a sustainable and secure energy future. His leadership emphasizes the integration of renewable energy, smart grid technology, and long-term policy reform.Prior to this role, Prof. Hemapala served as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, where he was a senior academic in the Department of Electrical Engineering. During his tenure, he spearheaded research and innovation through the Smart Grid Research Lab and the Digital Grid Research Lab, positioning the university as a key player in energy systems research in the region.Prof. Hemapala is widely recognized for his people-centric approach to energy planning and for building bridges between academia, industry, and policy to drive Sri Lanka’s energy transformation