Lalanath de Silva Will be ELAW’s Next Executive Director

After 34 years at ELAW, I’ll be retiring at the end of June. ELAW is in great shape, and it’s time for me to pass the torch.  

I have loved working alongside champions for a healthy planet from across the globe. I have enjoyed helping win victories for communities and ecosystems and build a powerful corps of environmental advocates.

I’m pleased to report that ELAW’s Board of Directors has selected Lalanath de Silva as the new Executive Director, following a rigorous search conducted with the support of independent consultants at Koya Partners. 

“Lalanath brings a depth of understanding and appreciation for the ELAW network, rooted in his own experiences as an advocate in different contexts,” says Amy Shannon, ELAW Board Chair. “The Board considered an impressive and diverse set of candidates. We are excited to bring Lalanath on as ELAW’s new Executive Director and to support him as he guides ELAW into the future.”

I have known Lalanath for many years — he is a public interest lawyer from Sri Lanka, and I first met him there through ELAW work years ago. Lalanath holds a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney, a Master of Laws from the University of Washington, and a law degree from the Sri Lanka Law College as an Attorney-at-Law.

Lalanath brings deep experience working with communities as a public interest lawyer before local courts, administrative tribunals, international adjudicatory bodies, and independent accountability mechanisms. Having spent much of his early career as a litigator, he also served in leadership roles at international nonprofits working to secure environmental and social rights, including Transparentem and the World Resources Institute.

Lalanath lives in Washington, D.C., now and plans to begin spending much of his time in Eugene this summer. I have told Lalanath that I will remain available to ensure ELAW achieves even greater success in the years ahead.

Thank you for your support, which helps make ELAW’s collaboration with inspiring environmental and human rights advocates possible. Our team looks forward to welcoming Lalanath on July 1.

Again, thanks for everything!