Laksiri Abeysekera is a senior finance and operations professional with over 40 years of international experience in strategic financial management, corporate governance, and institutional development. His career spans leadership roles across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including at two CGIAR Centres—the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF)—as well as the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).

Career Highlights
At IWMI in Sri Lanka, he served 14 years in senior roles, including Deputy Director of Finance and Administration. At ICRAF in Nairobi, he spent 18 years, culminating as Deputy Director General – Finance and Corporate Services, overseeing finance, HR, procurement, IT, contracts and grants, and risk management. He strengthened internal controls, introduced IFRS and full cost recovery, enhanced efficiency, and supported global expansion. His tenure saw significant growth in net assets and liquidity, strengthening the Centre’s sustainability and resilience.

At ICBA in Dubai, Mr. Abeysekera served as Director of Corporate Services, leading institutional reforms through modern policies, IFRS adoption, full cost recovery, and improved reporting systems, which boosted operational effectiveness.

CIFOR-ICRAF and Project Leadership
He is currently a Senior Fellow at CIFOR-ICRAF and played a key role in establishing its Sri Lanka office, including securing a host country agreement with the Government. He also served as Interim Head of Office until 2024. In his part-time advisory role, he supports the Director of Corporate Services and contributes to the USD 40 million Green Climate Fund–financed Knuckles Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Project with the Ministry of Irrigation.

Governance Roles
Mr. Abeysekera has extensive board experience. He served on the Board of the Low-Income Investment Fund (LIIF), USA (2015–2020), and currently serves on the Boards of AfricaRice (Côte d’Ivoire), where he chairs the Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee, the Global EverGreening Alliance (Australia), and LAUGFS Holdings Ltd. (Sri Lanka) as Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair.

Professional Credentials
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), he is recognized for his expertise in fiduciary oversight, results-based management, and governance, and is widely respected for his integrity and leadership in multicultural settings.