Governing Body

Ambassador Lalit Mansingh

Ambassador Lalit Mansingh joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1963. Ambassador Lalit Mansingh has served as India’s foreign secretary, ambassador to the United States and high commissioner to the United Kingdom. He has also been ambassador in the United Arab Emirates and high commissioner in Nigeria with concurrent accreditation to Benin, Chad and the Cameroon. At headquarters in Delhi, Ambassador Mansingh worked in a variety of assignments: as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Dean of the Foreign Service Institute and Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Ambassador Mansingh is associated with several international organizations such as Asia Pacific Leadership Network, Canberra; International Crisis Group, Brussels and International Advisory Committee, APCO Worldwide, Washington DC. At India, he is the President, Forum for Strategic Initiatives; Prof Emeritus of the Foreign Service Institute at New Delhi and the Global Envoy for International Buddhist Confederation, New Delhi. (Email ID: lalitmansingh@yahoo.com)

Mr Debi Prasad Bagchi

Mr Debi Prasad Bagchi joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1966 for the Odisha cadre. He held prestigious positions such as Principal Advisor of Planning Commission; Secretary, Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries; Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, Ministries of Commerce and Textiles, Government of India. For three and half years he has served as Secretary to Govt of Tripura for Agricultural and allied departments. He retired from civil service in October 2002 as the Chief Secretary-cum-Chief Development Commissioner of Odisha.

Mr. Bagchi has rich experience in general administration, management strategy, government industry relationship and Corporate Governance. Mr. Bagchi holds a Master's Degree in Economics from Uktal University and Master of Philosophy in Public Administration from Punjab University. He is actively associated with the Ramakrishna Mission.(Email ID: dpbagchi@gmail.com)

Mr K. Madhusudana Choudary

Mr K. Madhusudana Choudary is the Group Chairman of UTL Global Projects Pte Ltd. He is a leading businessman in Sri Lanka. (Email ID: kmc@spglobal.in)

 

 

 

 

Mr Sameer Kumar Das

Born at Baleswar in Odisha, Sameer Kumar Das is a Delhi based PR & Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in Public Relations, Business Development and Marketing Communication. He is presently working with BoardPAC Pvt Ltd, a Sri Lanka based multi-national software company promoting board meeting automation solution ‘BoardPAC’. Started career in PR industry where he catered services to Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Tourism Malaysia, Star Cruises, Resorts World Sentosa, ICICI Securities, etc. From 2011-2016, worked with hospitality company Toshali Resorts International as PR & Marketing Consultant with a special responsibility to promote the Buddhist heritage destinations of Odisha (ancient Kalinga).

Mr Das studied B.E. (Electrical) from KIIT Bhubaneswar (Utkal University) and also holds a Diploma in Training & Development from ISTD, New Delhi which is approved by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India. He has immense interest in poetry, cultural tourism and history. He expresses his views on contemporary issues through blog http://abhivyakti-sameer.blogspot.in/. (Email ID: sameerkumardas@gmail.com)

Mr Roshan Wijesekera

Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Mr Roshan Wijesekera has a 26 years long association with the aviation and tourism industry in India. He has worked with Commercial and General Aviation industry - Malaysian Airlines, Airlanka, Srilankan Airlines, Gulf Air and Religare, in different capacity such as Finance, Admin, Sales & Marketing, PR, HR, Legal, Flight Planning, Ground Handling, aircraft sales, aircraft repair & management, aircraft spare parts supply and managing high profile delegation visit to India.

During his tenor as the Country Manager – India for Mihin Lanka Airline, he had made significant contribution in increasing the inbound traffic for the Buddhist Heritage tourism of India. Presently he is associated with Siddhartha International, an IATO approved tour operator and hotel group. He holds an MBA degree in Sales & Marketing. (Email ID: srpwije@yahoo.co.in)

Mr Harihar Patra

Mr HariharPatra is one of country’s leading hospitality and tourism professional with a career spanning over more than 30 years. With a postgraduate degree from IIM Ahmedabad, he is trained extensively in Marketing, Sales, Finance and Cost Control. He is the Director (Sales& Marketing) of Toshali Resorts International which is known for promoting sustainable and eco tourism at off-beat destinations of India. Being an avid traveller, he has developed a vast experience of the changing business dynamics of the hotel industry worldwide and has been a prominent opinion leader in various industry forums.

He also spearheaded the company’s CSR activities by adopting a weaver’s village in Odisha thereby promoting the artisans and traditional Odishan design & handloom in overseas market. (Email ID: patra.harihar@gmail.com)

Mr Jatin Das

Mr Jatin Das is a world renowned contemporary artist and the Chairman, JD Centre for Art Bhubaneswar. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the President of India on 22nd March, 2012 at for his contribution in the field of art & culture. He has studied at the Sir JJ School of Art in Bombay.

In a career spanning five decades, his works are part of several public and private collections in India and Abroad. He has also done several murals and sculptures installations such as ‘The Journey of India: Mohenjo-Daro to Mahatma Gandhi’, oil on canvas, 7ft x 68ft, Indian Parliament, Delhi 2001 and Façade mural, Chelsea Arts Club, London, UK 2009. He has a 28 year old largest private collection of Pankha (hand fans) in the world, a majority of which are from the Indian subcontinent. Since May 2004, the collection has been on display at eminent museums in India and overseas. (Email ID: jatin@jatindas.com)

Ven. Sumiththananda Thero

Born at Kurunegala in Sri Lanka, Ven. Sumiththananda Thero has spent a monastic life of over 21 years. On invitation of Mahabodhi Society of India, he came to India in 2005 and has spent 6 years at the Mahabodhi Temple in Varanasi as the AssistantBhikkhu-in-Charge. Since 2011, he is theBhikkhu-in-Charge of the New Delhi Centre of Mahabodhi Temple. He is also the Joint Secretary of Mahabodhi Society of India. He has studied at the Colombo University and at the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi. (Email ID:sunarada@yahoo.com)

 

Mr Shakti Kanta Pattanaik

Mr Shakti Kanta Pattanaik is an alumnus of prestigious Ravenshaw College, Cuttack and Delhi School of Economics. He completed his LLB degree from Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi. He also received a Diploma in Corporate Law and Management from Indian Law Institute, Delhi. He is empaneled as a legal advisor and solicitor for number of reputed Indian and international companies.

He joined the legal profession in 2002 and has been practising law and representing his clients both in corporate and civil matters in various courts and tribunals throughout India including the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India.(Email ID: shaktipattanaik@rediffmail.com)

Mr Priyabrata Patnaik, IAS (retd)

A result-oriented bureaucrat, Mr Patnaik retired in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha. He has had a stellar role in making the Bhubaneswar Club what it is today. (Email: ppatnaik1953@gmail.com)

 

 

 

Mr Nandanandan Mishra, IRS (retd)

Mr Nandanandan Mishra has studied M.A. in Economics from Utkal University Bhubaneswar. He served for three decades in Indian Revenue Services (IRS). He takes keen interest in cultural activities. (Email ID: nandmishra@gmail.com)

 

 

 

Mr Gokul Patnaik, IAS (retd)

Mr Gokul Patnaik is the Chairman of Global AgriSystem Pvt. Ltd, India’s premier agri-services organization based in New Delhi. He is also the Vice Chairman of Katra Group which has strategic presence across diversified sectors including Wellness, Agri-business, Information Technology, Marine Logistics and Leisure & Lifestyle.Prior to this, Mr Patnaik was a member of IAS and served in senior positions both with the Government of Punjab and Government of India. As Chairman of the APEDA from 1991 to 1996, he was the architect of manifold increase in Indian agriculture exports.

Mr. Patnaik had been President of the All India Food Processors’ Association, Chairman of the National Council on Agriculture Marketing of CII and a member of the Governing Body of ICAR. Mr. Patnaik is a well-known authority on agribusiness and his views are frequently sought for by the Government as well as the private sector. (Email ID: gokul.patnaik@gmail.com)

Dr Pratap Kumar Pradhan, MD DM

A renowned Interventional Cardiologist, Dr P K Pradhan is a MD from Utkal University and DM from PGIMER Chandigarh. Currently is the Head of the Department of Cardiology, SPES SUPER SPECIALITY HOSPITAL, Tohana, Haryana. Earlier was he was associated with leading hospitals and medical college. He was the Senior Consultant at the Apollo Hospital, Bhubaneswar (Odisha) and Care Hospital, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). He was also the Professor and HOD at the Hi Tech Medical College, Bhubaneswar. (Email ID : pkp_681@rediffmail.com)

 

Ms Sakie Ariyawansa

Sakie Ariyawansa is a travel writer/Sinhala language trainer and counselor promoting foreign language training and skill development for effective communication. She believes in the concept “Inspire Traveling” where people can self-educate themselves about communities to eliminate stereotyping through traveling.

Sakie Ariyawansa is a travel writer/Sinhala language trainer and counselor promoting foreign language training and skill development for effective communication. She believes in the concept “Inspire Traveling” where people can self-educate themselves about communities to eliminate stereotyping through traveling.

 

Mr Prakash Chandra Nayak

Prakash Chandra Nayak (b.1969), a culture and communication expert, has his roots from undivided Cuttack district and settled in Jaraka, ( Dharmasala) now Jajpur district of Odisha. He is the Founder Secretary of Kalinga Club ( 1987) Jaraka and Trustee of Kalinga NatyaNirbana(2015) - a Buddhist Theatre group( Jataka Katha) based in Dharmasala . Has been promoting Buddhidt heritage sites of Odisha, with special focus on Odisha's "Diamond Triangle" of Buddhist sites (Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitagiri) and other prehistoric sites of Jajpur like Langudi, Kayama, Deuli, Kesha stupa, Bajragiri, Beruda, Radhanagar, Neulpur etc. He has been managing a community based organization (Horizon Lanka Foundation) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka and has been instrumental in exchange of students and teachers to India.

A trained geologist, Mr Prakash did his Masters and Pre-Doctoral from Sambalpur and Utkal University respectively but preferred to work in media and communication sector afterwards. He did his PGDJ from Indian Institute of Mass Communication ( underMinistry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt of India).He worked for a year as an advisor to Central Tibetan Administration, Mc Leodganj, Himachal Pradesh and other Tibetan settlements spread over India , Bhutan and Nepal in 2015. Of late, he is empaneled as International Festival Director under Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Government of India, since 2018. He has associated in curating music, film, art and book & literature festivals in India and South Asian countries. Professionally, He has advised central and state governments on behavioral change communication on different development issues. From 2011 onwards, he worked as international expert with FAO of UN (Nepal), UNICEF (Kenya & Somalia) and UNMAS( Afghanistan). ( Email ID: prakashcnayak@gmail.com)

 

Ms Praveeni Sapthala Dasanayake

Ms Praveeni Sapthala Dasanayake was Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka and has beenassociation with the Music industry in Sri Lanka &India. She is a Qualified Musician from National Dance / Music, Department of Examinations in Sri Lanka and from Bhatkhande Sangit Vidyapitha, Lucknow, India.

She has performed in Orchestra in Sri Lanka and India, Also perform inOrchestra for Radio and TV programs.She also following here further achievements in Hindustani Classical Music at Ghandarhva Mahavidyalaya in New Delhi and Western Music at Trinity College London.(Email ID: praveenidmps@gmail.com)