Prof. Lakshman Ratnayake is the Chancellor and Chairman of SLIIT. Prior to this role, he served as Dean and Senior Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. Before joining SLIIT, he was honoured as an Emeritus Professor by the same institution.

Prof. Ratnayake's leadership in the field of engineering is a testament to his dedication and influence. He has served as Vice Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and was President of both the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). His academic positions at the University of Calgary, Canada, and Utah State University, USA, further demonstrate his commitment to the field.

His expertise has led to appointments on several prestigious boards, including the National Transport Commission, National Research Council (NRC), National Science Foundation (NSF), University of Colombo Council, and the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) Board