Four Sri Lankan doctoral researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have showcased their research alongside Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia at a panel exploring the social, cultural and economic forces shaping Sri Lanka.
Held on 17 September as part of Immersia 2026 festival – the annual flagship outreach program hosted by the School of Culture, History and Language – the panel brought together Her Excellency Ms Yasoja Gunasekera, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia, and four Sri Lankan PhD researchers at ANU.
The event marked an opportunity for a significant group of Sri Lankan women undertaking doctoral research at ANU to share their work with a senior Sri Lankan representative, highlighting the breadth of research being undertaken by the Sri Lankan academic community at the University.
The ANU doctoral researchers presented work spanning entrepreneurship, gender, community and identity.
- Ravini Abhayarathne, from the Research School of Management, discussed entrepreneurial resilience among Sri Lankan small businesses.
- Viyanga Gunasekera, from the School of Regulation and Global Governance, examined community-making efforts driven by women in postwar Sri Lanka.
- Nadine Vanniasinkam, from the School of Culture, History and Language, explored Tamil Catholic placemaking in postwar Sri Lanka.
- Subashini Weerakotuwa, from the Research School of Management, examined how people navigate gender identity in evolving workplaces.
The discussion was moderated by Dr Sean Perera, Academic Sub Dean and Program Convener at the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, who said this was a momentous event for ANU.
“Bringing together the first all-female panel of Sri Lankan PhD candidates from the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at ANU to share their research with Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia created a valuable opportunity to strengthen cultural connections and make visible the contributions of Sri Lankan women to academic life at ANU
"I believe that events such as this recognise the importance of diversity within our academic community, by reflecting the stories we tell and the contributions we celebrate,” said Dr Perera.
In her address, High Commissioner Gunasekera highlighted the strong education partnership between Sri Lanka and Australia as cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.
She also commended the contribution of Sri Lankan academics, researchers and students to Australian universities and their role in advancing academic excellence and connecting regional policy, scientific innovation and cross-cultural perspectives.
The event was a collaboration between the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra, and the South Asia Research Institute and School of Culture, History and Language at ANU.
It brought together representatives from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, academics and professionals to hear from the emerging researchers and discuss the connections between research, education and Sri Lanka’s evolving social landscape.
