Wijesinghe Mudalige Chathuri Bandara
School of Health & Society
Biography
Chathuri Rangika Sri Bandara’s Master’s by Research explored employment transitions and care leavers in Sri Lanka, with a particular focus on understanding duty-bearers’ perspectives on employment support services. Her research is driven by a strong interest in how institutional systems, policies, and professional practices shape the life chances of young people leaving care. She is especially concerned with improving access to sustainable employment, strengthening support mechanisms, and promoting more inclusive and responsive social services for vulnerable youth populations.
Chathuri’s passion for this area is closely connected to her long-standing commitment to social work and community development. Through years of hands-on experience working with disadvantaged communities, children at risk, and individuals facing social exclusion, she has developed a deep understanding of the structural barriers that limit opportunities for those transitioning out of care systems. Her work has consistently centred on empowerment, resilience, and creating pathways for individuals to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
With over a decade of professional experience, Chathuri has worked across government ministries, international development projects, and grassroots community initiatives in Sri Lanka. She has contributed to major programmes supported by organisations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, where she played key roles in social development planning, data analysis, and community engagement. Her experience includes conducting psychosocial assessments, designing research tools, facilitating focus group discussions, and developing policy recommendations with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and gender responsiveness.
Chathuri began her career in administrative management before transitioning to social work, where she found her true vocation: advocating for vulnerable populations. She has worked extensively with children, youth, women, and differently-abled individuals, delivering counselling support, organising empowerment programmes, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to achieve meaningful, client-centred outcomes. Alongside her professional journey, Chathuri has pursued extensive academic training in social work, sociology, counselling, and psychotherapy. Her previous research has examined issues such as inclusive education for children with disabilities, period poverty in rural communities, and the social impacts of displacement and resettlement. This body of work reflects her ability to connect academic inquiry with real-world challenges and to generate research that is both relevant and impactful.
Areas of Research
Care leavers, youth transitions, employment and employability, social policy, service provision, duty bearers, vulnerable populations, social inclusion, community development, gender responsiveness, psychosocial wellbeing, resilience, poverty and inequality, displacement and resettlement, disability and inclusion
Qualifications
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Masters of Science by Research in Social Policy
2024 - 2026 -
Masters of Sociology
2022 - 2023 -
Postgraduate Research Training Certificate
2021 - 2022 -
Bachelors of Social Work
2015 - 2019