| Palitha Udayakantha | |
| Birth Name: | Panik Mudiyanselage Palitha Udayakantha |
| Alma Mater: | University of Ruhuna, Ohio State University |
| Occupation: | Surveyor |
| Surveyor General of Sri Lanka | |
| Term: | 30 May 2014 ‐ May 2019 |
| Predecessor: | Nihal Gunawardena |
| Successor: | S. M. P. P. Sangakkara |
Palitha Udayakantha was the 47th Surveyor General of Sri Lanka, serving in office between 2014 and 2019.[1]
Udayakantha received his primary and secondary education at Galagedara primary school and Nugawela Central College respectively.[2] He graduated from the University of Ruhuna with a degree in physical science, before joining the Survey Department of Sri Lanka in 1983, as an Assistant Superintendent of Surveys.[3] He obtained a higher diploma in surveying from the Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Diyatalawa, and was awarded a gold medal by the Sri Lanka Surveyors Institute for his achievements. In 1988 he obtained a master's degree in geodetic science from Ohio State University.[3] [4]
Udayakantha was also a lecturer at the Institute of Surveying and Mapping, and later served as a senior assistant secretary at the Ministry of Land and Land Development, where he contributed to improving land registration and to developing the Bim Saviya programme.[5] [6] On 24 August 2007 he was registered as a surveyor by the Land Survey Council of Sri Lanka.[7]
While working as senior deputy surveyor general (mapping), he was also a member of the editorial committee of Sri Lanka National Atlas and initiated programmes to expedite mapping activities.[8]
In March 2014 he was appointed the vice-chairman of the Land Survey Council and subsequently elevated to chairman in May.[9]
Udayakantha took up the role of Surveyor General of Sri Lanka on 30 May 2014, succeeding Nihal Gunawardena.[3] He was a member of the National Steering Committee which oversaw the establishment of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, a website for facilitating online access to geo-spatial information in Sri Lanka.[10]
He retired in March 2019 and was replaced by S. M. P. P. Sangakkara.[11]