RESEARCHERS
Anisha Gooneratne – Researcher
Anisha is a Researcher at the Colombo Urban Lab, at the Centre for a Smart Future. Her academic background is in Politics, Policy and Technology, with research interests in technology and innovation to foster development. She has over five years of experience working in digital technology strategy formulation, technology implementation, and research. She believes in the strong role that technology can play as a catalyst for development, and works to transform the lives of those who are most vulnerable in society using technology. She has worked on research projects for clients including the Institute for Development Studies (UK), UCL(UK) and the Global Governance Institute(UK).
Meghal Perera – Researcher
Meghal is a Researcher in urbanisation, and works with the Colombo Urban Lab, at the Centre for a Smart Future. She holds a Master of Science – MS Urbanization and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a Bachelors in Geography and English from the University of Exeter. She has work experience with UNESCAP, ILO and the South Asian Centre for Legal Studies.
Nimaya Dahanayake – Research Assistant
Nimaya is a Research Assistant at the Centre for a Smart Future, and currently working on a sub-regional project on gig work and the platform economy. She is a graduate of Economics and Management from the University of London and has just recently completed her final year examination at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo. She was part of a team of law students that advanced to the Global Final Rounds of the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition organized by the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA), having reached the finals of the West and South Asian Regional Rounds in April 2022. At the Global Final Round held in Geneva, the team emerged as one of the top eight teams in the world.
RESOURCE PEOPLE
Mangalika Adhikari – Visiting Fellow
Mangalika is a retired senior civil servant having served in many high-level roles in Government. Her most recent appointment prior to retirement was as the Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries where she spearheaded a series of progressive and strategic initiatives. Previously, she was Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development.
Sohan Patrick – Visiting Fellow
Sohan is General Manager of Strategic Planning at MAS Holdings, one of Sri Lanka’s largest apparel multinationals. He works with CSF on the ‘Re:Wild’ initiative that brings economists and financial professionals together with conservationists to promote natural capital valuation.
Shehan Ramanayake – Visiting Fellow
Shehan has diverse experience in international organizations, corporates, and startups in roles anchored to sustainability and development. In recent roles he was Director SME Competitiveness with Palladium’s Private Sector Development project; he was General Manager – Field & Sustainability at Resplendent Ceylon; Tourism Consultant at the Southern Development Board, Ministry of Southern Development; CEO of Crowdisland; and General Manager at Trekurious Pvt Ltd.
Shayani Weerasinghe – Visiting Fellow
Shayani is an Environmental Scientist by trade with over ten years of multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral work experience. She has worked across the thematic areas of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing, corporate public affairs, sustainability, and communications, international Science & Technology cooperation programmes (funded by the European Commission) and most recently, gender-sensitisation and inclusiveness of public policy (funded by Global Affairs Canada). Shayani is currently the National Project Coordinator at the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities (the national association of all 341 local governments of Sri Lanka).
Dr. Janaka Wijayasiri – Visiting Fellow
Janaka has over 20 years of work experience in research and international development, having worked at a leading economic think tank and then at a donor assisted program in Sri Lanka. His research interests are focused on issues relating to trade and investment policies, competitiveness, value chains, enterprise development, and migration, amongst others. Janaka has several publications to his name which have appeared as articles and chapters in both journal and book publications. He also served as the co-editor of the South Asian Economic Journal, a peer reviewed journal which looks at international and regional economic issues in South Asia. He holds a BA in Economics with Development Studies from the University of Sussex, UK and an MA in Economics of Development from the Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University, the Netherlands, and PhD from Monash University, Australia.
