Dr. Achala received her PhD from Deakin University, Australia. She holds an MSc in Development Communication and Extension from the University of Peradeniya and a BA in Communication from the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. She now holds the Post of Senior Administrative Officer of the AHEAD Project of the University of Visual and Performing Arts while serving as an Visiting Lecturer of the University of Visual and Performing Arts and The Open University of Sri Lanka. Prior to that, Dr. Achala was serving as a lecturer of the Trincomalee Campus of The Eastern University of Sri Lanka.