Sri Lankan Economist Athukorala Recognised with Prestigious Australian Honour

Emeritus Professor Prema-chandra Athukorala has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List, recognising his significant contributions to higher education and his work in international trade and development economics.

He is among 948 individuals honoured this year across various fields, including public service, academia, science, arts, sport, and community service.

In announcing the honours, Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn praised the recipients for their outstanding contributions to the nation, noting that the awards reflect the value of service across all sectors of society. She highlighted that such recognition celebrates individuals whose work helps shape and strengthen Australia.

Based in Canberra, Athukorala currently serves as Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University (ANU). He was a Professor of Economics in the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics from 2001 until 2020.

Before joining ANU, he taught at La Trobe University between 1985 and 1994 and began his academic career at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka.

With a career spanning more than five decades, Athukorala has established a strong international reputation in trade and development economics. His research has focused on globalisation, trade policy, international production networks, economic growth, financial crises, and labour migration.

His academic work has influenced policymakers, researchers, and international organisations across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. He has also served as a consultant to major institutions, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Labour Organization, and the Government of Sri Lanka.

In addition, he has held visiting academic positions at several prestigious universities, including the University of Manchester, Copenhagen Business School, Hitotsubashi University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Athukorala has been a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia since 2003 and has contributed extensively to academic publishing, serving in editorial roles for leading journals such as Asian Development Review and Asian Economic Papers.

His appointment to the Order of Australia recognises a distinguished academic career dedicated to advancing global understanding of trade, development, and economic policy.