Upali Tissa Vitharana (born 30 August 1934) is a Sri Lankan politician, former Member of Parliament and former cabinet minister. He is the current leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), and is served as Governor of North Central Province.
Following retirement in 1994 Vitharana was a professor of microbiology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura from 1995 to 2000 and an advisor to the Minister of Science and Technology from 1994 to 2001.
following the 2004 parliamentary election. He was appointed Minister of Science and Technology after the election.
in May 2010, he was appointed Minister of Technology and Research.He was promoted to Senior Minister of Scientific Affairs in November 2010