Thisuri Jayathma
Intern (Research)
Thisuri Jayathma
Thisuri Jayathma is a dedicated researcher specializing in economics, with a strong foundation in development studies, social policy, and applied statistics. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics from Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, graduating with a Second Class Upper Division.
Her professional journey includes serving as a Research Student at Sabaragamuwa University under the World Bank-funded AHEAD project, where she contributed to impactful research on social capital, transaction costs, livelihood development, and social protection. She also trained at the Bank of Ceylon, Matara, gaining practical exposure to the workings of Sri Lanka’s banking sector.
She has contributed to academic and public discourse through multiple publications in Journals and newspapers, including recent articles in Ceylon Today and The Morning, and Sunday Observer. She has presented her paper at the 10th Sri Lanka Economic Research Conference, demonstrating her active engagement in scholarly platforms.
In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, she has a rich background in extracurricular activities, leadership, and the arts. She served as a Senior Executive Prefect in Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matara and was a First-Class Member of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association, earning the Gold Award in the Jenny Calverly Community Service Projects. Her talents in the arts led her to win multiple All-Island awards in music (Western and Eastern) and drama, including recognition by Sri Lanka Rupavahini. With a passion for inclusive policy development and social equity, she combines her analytical skills, particularly in SPSS and SMART-PLS, with a deep commitment to driving positive change through evidence-based research. She is passionate about contributing to inclusive economic policies and sustainable development in Sri Lanka through her research and public engagement.
Ravith. E. N. Ihalagedara
Intern (Research)
Thisuri Jayathma
Ravith. E. N. Ihalagedara is a research intern under the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) and is an aspiring researcher in geopolitics with a strong foundation in the realm of international relations and national security. He has garnered a keen understanding of his field, pursuing a career in diplomacy, and is currently a 2nd year undergraduate at the Nawaloka College of Higher Studies (NCHS) US transfer program.
As an academic, Ravith’s journey into diplomacy began as an orator in Model United Nations, hosting a competitive sphere of WSDC-level debaters and international delegates, claiming an award ratio of 12 conferences and 11 awards. He has received national awards such as Best Delegate at the Overseas School of Colombo and Best Research Paper Award at the Sri Lanka Model UN conference. He has further represented his institution at international conferences such as the Yale Conference held in India, where he received a Higher Commendation at the United Nations Environment Program.
As a Researcher within the INSS, he recently authored articles on Weapons Technology, Human Trafficking and co-authored an article on Child rights. He is also publishing a research on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems, analyzing International Humanitarian Law and the diplomatic process in shaping a solution, hoping to present his findings at the BCIS - Emerging Scholars Symposium on International Relations.
In his spare time, Ravith is an educator with almost 3 years of experience tutoring Cambridge Ordinary Level English, Public Speaking and Journalism in schools and other institutions. He is also involved in social services, as an advocate for Human Rights, participating as a youth moderator in the International Youth Alliance for Peace webinar series on Gender Based Violence, and was a volunteer speaker at the UNICEF celebration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ravith hopes to contribute to the growing body of literature on national security, specifically on the geopolitics of conflicts, how they are interlinked, and leveraging diplomatic solutions to uphold humanitarian principles and ensure state development.