Manjula Dissanayake is an investment banker turned social entrepreneur and the Founding Executive Director of Educate Lanka Foundation – a non-profit social enterprise with a mission of unleashing the potential of young people by democratizing equitable and inclusive learning opportunities. Prior to founding Educate Lanka, Manjula began his career in finance and international development, including a term at the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank.

A fervent advocate for inclusion and equity in education and workforce opportunities, Manjula actively promotes and speaks on these issues on global platforms, including the U.N., the World Bank, the U.S. Department of State, and the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE). Manjula was named an under-33 Global Influencer and a top 10 Social Innovator in the U.S. His TEDx Talk: ‘Talent is universal. Opportunity is not.' highlights his core belief in the universal right to opportunities.

Manjula holds a bachelor's in finance from the University of Maryland and a master's in international development and social innovation from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Manjula is a Salzburg Global Fellow and a World in 2050 Senior Fellow. He also serves on the boards of other non-profits, including the board of the Learning Economy Foundation and the executive committee of Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills. Based in Washington DC, Manjula splits his time between the US and Sri Lanka, bridging cultures and communities in his ongoing mission to democratize education for all.