Dr. Athula Gnanapala is a Professor in Tourism Management attached to the Dept. of Tourism Management, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Currently, he is working as the  the Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies (2018 - to date). Further, he is the predecessor Head, Department of Tourism Management, Programme Coordinator of the MSc. in Ayurvedic Hospital Management degree programme. He obtained his first degree, B.Sc. Tourism Management, form the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka and the M.Sc. in Management from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He completed his Doctoral degree in Tourism Management at the School of Business, Xiamen University, P.R. China. His research interests include consumer behavior in tourism, travel motivation & satisfaction, wildlife tourism, sustainable tourism planning & development, destination management and marketing etc. He has published his research works as nearly 20 books and book chapters, more than 30 research articles in refereed and indexed journals, more than 50 international conference presentations. He disseminates his expertise as a reviewer of nationally and internally recognized journals, tourism consultant, editorial member, scientific committee member for international symposiums. Further, Prof. Gnanapala renders his service as a postgraduate and PhD supervisor and examiner.

Administrative Positions

Vice-Chancellor

1.Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka from May 2020 to October 2020.

Dean

1. Dean, Faculty of Management Studies from 11.09.2017 for a period of 6 years

Head

1. Head, Dept. of Tourism Management from 14.09.2013 to 10.09.2017

2. Head, Dept. of Tourism Management from 16.01.2007 to 30.08.2007

Postgraduate Courses

1. Programme Coordinator of the M.Sc. Ayurvedic Hospital Management degree programme from 01.05.2006 to 30.08.2007

2. Programme Coordinator of the M.Sc. Ayurvedic Hospital Management degree programme from 02.01.2012 to 31.12.2017.

1. Country Coordinator, CESTour Project of the Erasmus+ (EU)

2. Vice President, Professional Business Coachers Association

3. A member of the Board of Study (BOS) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) from 2021/2022

Research Papers

1. Gamage T.C., Gnanapala, A. & Ashill, N.J. (2021). Understanding Social Customer Relationship Management, Journal of Strategic Marketing, 1.25. DOI: 10.1080/0965254X.2021.1923056
2. Sandaruwani, R.C. & Gnanapala, A.C. (2021). Challenges and Issues Confronting Sri Lanka in Museum Tourism Development. Curator: The Museum Journal, 64 (4), 751-778, doi.org/10.1111/cura.12445
3. Arachchi, R.S.S.W. and Gnanapala, W.K.A.C (2020). Impact of COVID 19 and the Future of Tourism Employments in Sri Lanka: A Route to Recovery and Resilience. Journal of Management and Tourism Research Special Issue (2020) 15-26.
4. Arachchi, R.S.S.W. and Gnanapala, W.K.A.C (2020). COVID - 19 and Tourism Crisis and Challenges of Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka. Rebuilding Tourism and Hospitality Sectors, Bharti Publications, India.
5. Wijesundara, S.R. and Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2020). Perceived Tourist Harassment in Tourist Destinations: A Study of Southern Coastal Belt of Sri Lanka. Global Challenges and Strategic Disruptors in Asian Businesses and Economies: IGI Global.
6. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, I., Gnanapala, A., and Aslam, M. (2005). Tourism and its Implications for Management in Ruhuna National Park (Yala), Sri Lanka. Tourism Management, 26 (5): 733-742.
7. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, I. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Post-Conflict Tourism Development in Sri Lanka: Implications for Building Resilience. Current Issues in Tourism. 1-18.
8. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, I., Gnanapala, A. (2016). Whale Watching in Sri Lanka: Perception of Sustainability. Tourism Management Perspective, 18, 125 - 133.
9. Sandaruwani, J.A.R.C. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2016). Food wastage and its impacts on sustainable business operations: a study on Sri Lankan Tourist Hotels. Procedia Food Science 6, 133 – 135.
10. Gnanapala W.K.A.C. (2014). Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction Related to the Tourist Hotel Industry in Sri Lanka. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 2(7), 265-278.
11. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Tourists Perception and Satisfaction: Implications for Destination Management. American Journal of Marketing Research, 1(1), 7-19.
12. Pathirana, D.P.U.T. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2015). Tourist Harassment at Cultural Sites in Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 2, 42 - 56. 
13. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2012). Destination Satisfaction and Behavioral Intentions of the Tourists: A Study on Sri Lanka. Wayamba Journal of Management, 3(1), 37-55.
14. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. & Wijesundara, N. (2012). Effective Marketing Practices for Sport Tourism: A Critique. Journal of Vishranthi, 2(2), 7 - 14.
15. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Tourism in Developing Countries: Literacy Evidences. Journal of World Development Studies, 1(2), 1-18.
16. Namal, C.N.R. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2016). Difficulties and Challenges Associated with The Development of Homestay Tourism in Sri Lanka Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 90 - 104. 
17. Jayasinghe M.K.D., Gnanapala W.K.A.C., & Sandaruwani J.A.R.C. (2015). Factors Affecting Tourists' Perception and Satisfaction in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, 2, 1-15.
18. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. & Sandaruwani, J.A.R.C. (2016). Socio-economic Impacts of Tourism Development and Their Implications on Local Communities. International Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 2(5), 59-67.
19. Kovilage, M.P. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2016). Intention of Foreign Tourists to Stay in Eco-Certified Accommodation: With Special Reference to Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 74 - 89.
20. Ekanayake, I.A. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2016). Travel Experiences and Behavioural Intentions of the Tourists: A Study on Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 50 - 61.
21. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C & Karunathilaka, T.P. (2016). Community Perception on Tourism Development and its Impacts: A Study on Passikudha, Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 64 - 78.
22. Sandaruwani, J.A.R.C. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). The Role of Tourist Guides and their Impacts on Sustainable Tourism Development: A Critique on Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 62 - 73.
23. Sathiyaseelan, T. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Service Quality and Patients’ Satisfaction on Ayurvedic Health Services. American Journal of Marketing Research, 1(3), 158-166.
24. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2012). Travel Motivations and Destination Selection: A Critique. International Journal of Research in Computer Application & Management, 2(1), 49-53.
25. Nayomi, G. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Socio-Economic Impacts on Local Community through Tourism Development with Special Reference to Heritance Kandalama. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 2, 57 - 73.
26. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. & Sandaruwani, J.A.R.C. (2016). Impacts of Tourism Development in Cultural and Heritage Sites: An Empirical Investigation. International Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 2(6), 68-78.

1. “Tourism in Rural Poverty Alleviation through Socio-Cultural and Countryside Capitalization” funded by the AHEAD Development Oriented Research Grants, (DOR Grants), Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Books

1. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Travel Motives, Perception & Satisfaction. Saarbrücken: Scholars Press. ISBN: 978-3-639-76902-9
2. Aslam, A., Cooper, J.M., Gnanapala, A., & Gamage, C. (2019). Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
3. Ratnayake, K.M.M.I. and Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2000). Sri Lanka: Sabaragamuwa Province Insight Guide. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.

Book Chapters

1. Seram, D.S. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2019). Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Work Performance in the Hotel Industry of Sri Lanka. In A. Gnanapala, M. Aslam, M., Cooper, J.M. & C. Gamage (Ed.), Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3031-0.

2. Charika, K.M.R. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2019). Unplanned Tourism Development on Tourists’ Satisfaction with Special Reference to Negombo, Sri Lanka. In A. Gnanapala, M. Aslam, M., Cooper, J.M. & C. Gamage (Ed.), Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3031-0.

3. Senevirathne, M.P.D.R.S. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2019). Behavioral Characteristics of Solo Female Travellers in Sri Lanka. In A. Gnanapala, M. Aslam, M., Cooper, J.M. & C. Gamage (Ed.), Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3031-0.

4. Dinusha, H. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2019). Interpretation Quality of Tourist Guides and it’s Impacts on Tourists’ Satisfaction in Round Tours. In A. Gnanapala, M. Aslam, M., Cooper, J.M. & C. Gamage (Ed.), Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3031-0.

5. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Peace Marketing and Tourism Development: Empirical Evidences from Sri Lanka. In A. Nedelea & M. Nedelea (Eds), Peace Marketing, Bucureşti: Editura Universitară. ISBN 978-606-28-0469-5.

6. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2011). Strategy and Strategy Formulation: A Critique. In H.M. Bandara & K.R.H.L. Gunasekara (Ed.), Essays in Social Sciences, Colombo: S. Godage & Brothers. ISBN: 978-955-30- 3226-3.

7. Buultjens, J., Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. & Ratnayake, I. (2015). Sri Lanka and Tourism: The Need for a Green Economy Approach. In M. V. Reddy & K. Wilkes (Ed.), Tourism in the Green Economy, London Routledge. ISBN: 978041570921

8. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, I. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). From Tsunami to Recovery: The Resilience of the Sri Lankan Tourism Industry. In B.W. Ritchie and K. Campiranon (Ed.), Tourism Crisis and Disaster Management in the Asia-Pacific. Oxfordshire: CBAI. ISBN: 9781780643250.

9. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Destination Marketing Approaches for Wildlife Tourism. In J. K. Fatima (Eds), Wilderness of Wildlife Tourism. Waretown, NJ: Apple Academic Press. ISBN 9781771884815. 

10. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, R., & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Managing Wildlife Tourism in Sri Lanka: Opportunities and Challenges. In J. K. Fatima (Eds), Wilderness of Wildlife Tourism. Waretown, NJ: Apple Academic Press. ISBN 9781771884815

11. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Strategic Planning and Management in Developing Countries: Issues and Challenges. In H. M. Bandara (Ed.), Policy Issues and Development, Nugegoda: A Stamford Lake Publications. ISBN 978-955-658-413-4

12. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Stakeholder Conflicts in Tourism: A Study of Hoteliers and Travel Agents in Sri Lanka. In Sustainable Tourism in the Global South; Eds. M. Aslam, M.J.M. Cooper, A. A. Lew, Nor’ain Othman, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 290 - 307. ISBN- 1443888184, 978-1-4438-8818-9

13. Samarathunga, W.H.M.S. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Impact of All-inclusive Tour Packages with special reference to Bentota Tourist Resort. In Sustainable Tourism in the Global South; Eds. M. Aslam, M.J.M. Cooper, A. A. Lew, Nor’ain Othman, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p.308-325. ISBN-1443888184, 978-1-4438-8818-9.

14. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, R., & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2017). Sri Lankan tourism development and implications for resilience. In R. Butler (Eds), Tourism and Resilience. Oxfordshire: CABI. ISBN-13: 978-1780648330, ISBN-10: 1780648332.

15. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2017). Public relations in hospitality marketing. In D. Gursoy (Eds), Routledge Handbook of Hospitality Marketing. London: Taylor & Francis Ltd. ISBN10: 1138214663, ISBN13: 9781138214668.

1. Co-editor in Chief - South Asian Journal of Tourism & Hospitality (SAJTH)

2. Editor in Chief of the “Udyama” Management Digest Volume I of Issue I (2021) publish by the Faculty of Management Studies of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

3. Editor in Chief of the Tourism Editor in Chief of Tourism In Paradise (TIP) Magazine Volume I and II publish by the Dept. of Tourism Management, Faculty of Management Studies of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.