News Details

COLLEGE STATION – A senior economist for the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines has joined the leadership of the Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture of the Texas A&M System.

Dr. Piyasena Abeygunawardena, who earned both his master’s degree and doctorate from Texas A&M, has accepted the position as the institute’s associate director and a faculty member in the department of agricultural economics.

In his new role, Abeygunawardena will report to associate vice chancellor and institute director Dr. Edwin Price and act in his behalf during his absence. His job responsibilities will include supervising and conducting international agriculture project proposals and development, and creating and leading international agriculture projects in cooperation with various university departments and partner agencies.

“Dr. Abeygunawardena brings an extensive background and acumen as an economist, development specialist, and agriculturist to expand the institute’s work abroad to the benefit of other countries, as well as university students, faculty and researchers,” Price said. “We’re delighted to have someone with his ability to manage projects and create relationships in a cross-cultural environment help us with our mission of improving the quality of life in other countries by helping them enhance their agricultural and agribusiness capacity.”

The Borlaug Institute, named for Nobel Peace Prize and Congressional Gold Medal recipient Dr. Norman Borlaug, is the lead agency or a partner in a variety of international agriculture projects, including those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Panama and Indonesia. It promotes research to influence policy on issues such as transferring new agricultural technology, improving sciences for better global health and developing infrastructure to enhance agrarian economies. Prior to joining the institute, Abeygunawardena served as a principal energy economist and project economist for the South Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank in Manila. As part of his duties, he processed and administered loan projects, technical assistance and institutional building activities throughout Asia. Abeygunawardena also served as the development bank’s principal economist for the environment in the East and Central Asia Department. Before that, he was a senior economist and environmental specialist. Over his 14-year career at the development bank, he processed and administered more than $2 billion in loans throughout Asia. Abeygunawardena graduated from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1979. He then came to the U.S. and attended Texas A&M, where he earned a master’s degree in agricultural economics and doctorate in natural resource economics in 1983 and 1986, respectively.

“Joining the Borlaug Institute is like coming home after a long journey where I traveled through many lands and seas,” Abeygunawardena said. “I feel honored and proud to be part of the institution named after a true internationalist and American icon who made the biggest contribution in the 20th century to feed the hungry and the poor. I am committed to this cause and can think of no better duty.”

After graduating from A&M, Abeygunawardena returned to Sri Lanka where he held several positions at the University of Peradeniya before joining the Asian Development Bank in 1994. These positions included acting dean of agriculture faculty, lecturer, senior lecturer and associate professor in the department of agricultural economics.

Along with memberships in various agriculture-related societies and associations, Abeygunawardena also is a founding director and co-owner of the Nilmini Estate (Pvt) Ltd, a 100-acre organic tea-producing estate in Sri Lanka. He is also a founding member and a director of the Integrated Energy and Economic Development Association in Sri Lanka, a non-governmental organization that distributes fuel-efficient wood stoves as part of a sustainable market-based program.

He also has written 10 books and contributed chapters to five others, along with authoring dozens of scientific abstracts and publications and approximately 100 articles. In addition, he has refereed and peer- or edit-reviewed a total of 50 additional academic pieces.

“Dr. Abeygunawardena has an impressive academic background in addition to working in the arena of international development, including his many years working in China, India and Afghanistan,” Price said. “His timely, meaningful real-world expertise in energy, environmental and agricultural economics, as well as his understanding of multi-cultural working environments and social and political systems, will serve him – and us – well here at the Borlaug Institute.” -30-