Thilanga Sumathipala is the fifth child out of a family of seven children (Sandya Alahendra, Ramani Gunadasa, Jagath Sumathipala, Anoja Chandrathilake, Anusha Dharmadasa and Shanika Edirisinghe), the son of U. W. Sumathipala and Dr. Milina Sumathipala. His father worked in a number of industries, including construction, logistics, film and as a turf accountant. In 1979, when Sumathipala was fifteen, his father died of heart failure, at the age of 55 years, with his mother being solely responsible for managing the family's business activities and raising her children. Sumathipala was born on 3 May 1964, and raised in his family home in Colombo with his faith in Buddhism. He was educated at
Nalanda College, Colombo. At school, having studied the commerce stream, Sumathipala also actively participated in cricket and was the vice-captain of the school's first XI cricket team in 1982. In 1983, he went onto further studies in Photolithography and Printing Techniques at the London College of Printing, (United Kingdom), during his time in London he played for the Blackheath Cricket Club in the
Kent. Upon graduating in the field of printing, Sumathipala returned to Sri Lanka in 1985 to assist in his family business with his primary focus on the printing operations at Sumathi Printers. Subsequently he focused on expansion and diversification, establishing various enterprises under the Sumathi brand, including Sumathi Book Printing, Sumathi Publishers, Sumathi Trading. In 1992, Sumathipala married Samadara Wimalarathne, daughter of Victor Wimalarathne and Chandra who managed Sri Lanka’s Premium Confectionery Ice cream, Alerics. They had three sons Suhantha (1993), Dulantha (1997) and Sajantha (1999), all whom attended Royal College. Sumathipala has an extensive educational background, which include the following: Following his studies in printing in London, he pursued his Postgraduate Studies in Public Management at the University of Colombo. Subsequently he earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration from the same institution. Sumathipala completed Executive Education Programs at the Harvard Business School in 2005 and again in 2006 at the Harvard J.F.K School of Government. In recognition of his expertise, Sumathipala was appointed as a distinguished Professor in Strategic Management by the University of Keiymung in 2014. Presently Sumathipala is pursuing a Ph.D at the Beijing University of Foreign Studies. == Career ==