Ven. Gomila Gunalankara

Ven. Gomila Gunalankara is a Senior Lecturer (Grade II) in Buddhist Psychology and Counselling in the Department of Applied Buddhist Studies, Faculty of Buddhist Studies, Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka. His academic work bridges Buddhist and Western psychological traditions, with particular interests in psychological processes, counselling and clinical psychology, biological psychology, abnormal behaviour, school counselling, mindfulness-based interventions and Buddhist psychotherapy. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with First-Class Honours at the University of Peradeniya, an M.A. in Buddhist Ayurveda Counselling at the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, and an M.Phil. in Psychology at the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Peradeniya. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology at the University of Delhi, India.

His academic and professional experience includes university teaching, school counselling, staff development, quality assurance, conference organization and research supervision. He served as Director of the Staff Development Center at the Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka and has contributed to the development of Buddhist Counselling programmes and mental well-being initiatives. His research addresses Dharma Therapy, psychological distress among cancer patients, mindfulness and psychotherapy, grief management, abnormal behaviour, counselling ethics, Buddhist and Western approaches to psychology, and the application of Buddhist teachings in clinical and counselling settings. His scholarly work includes books, edited journal volumes, peer-reviewed research articles, conference papers, theses and project reports.