Inclusion is central to everything we do at LIRNEasia. We are also cognizant of windows of opportunity for getting issues on the policy agenda. Thus this oped on elections in a time of pandemic. EVMs can be designed to allow persons with disabilities to exercise their right to vote. They can reduce errors in tabulation and speed up the release of results, but they do not eliminate the need for people to congregate.
In light of the lessons emerging from international experience, it is important to avoid local-government authorities from being tempted to sign exclusive agreements before becoming fully informed of the implications. What positive contributions can be made by higher levels of government? What network and facility sharing will be allowed? Is there value in providing general guidelines and model contracts, while allowing for normal negotiations to take place, perhaps backed up by some forms of low-cost dispute resolution mechanisms? When lamp posts and similar public fixtures become sophisticated sensing devices that pull in massive amounts of data, questions of who has access to the data under what terms will become important.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a huge role in our economy. It is estimated that 52% of Sri Lanka’s GDP comes from the SME sector. Therefore, if SMEs perform better, the economy as a whole will perform better. But how can SMEs improve their business? Our AfterAccess SME survey in Sri Lanka conducted in early 2019 (pre-COVID19) showed that SMEs who are more digitally connected SMEs are more successful in their businesses in various aspects.
The Myanmar Digital Rights Forum took place on 28 and 29 February 2020. It was the fourth iteration of the event, and my third. It was also the biggest yet, seeing approx. 350 participants from civil society, government, private sector, and academia. Many of these participants believed that digital rights and freedom had depleted in Myanmar over the past year, a poll taken at the forum indicated.
Presented by Prof. Rohan Samarajiva on 20 February 2020 in Colombo
This involves working up from specific use cases, not only working down from principles.
Keynote address given by Prof. Rohan Samarajiva at the "Cyril Ponnamperuma Memorial International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research 2020" in Kandy on 21 January 2020.
Living with disability from birth has helped Rajan develop a “can-do” attitude towards living an active and independent life. Becoming disabled later in life, in contrast, has left our next respondent, in very different circumstances.
What can be done to mitigate the communication gaps with the doctors? Some preliminary thoughts
LIRNEasia in association with Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust (NTT) conducted research program which promotes participatory knowledge sharing processes and social integration among fruits and vegetable farmers connected to export value chains in the North and South. 
Abstract from a talk given by Rohan Samarajiva 
This is highly dependent on the nature of the platform.
Presented by Prof. Rohan Samarajiva at SLAAS / SLIC Conference "From Innovation to Impact" 2019 on 22nd November 2019. Colombo, Sri Lanka
The group is an expansion of the UN Global Pulse Data Privacy Advisory Group which was established in 2014, and of which Samarajiva was a member since inception.
CEO Helani Galpaya was invited to speak at the "Asian Liveable Cities Forum: Digital Solutions for Livable Cities" conference held in San Francisco, 12-14 November 2019
What does one say about the passing of Deunden Nikomborirak? How does one adequately mourn the death of one so accomplished, one with so much more to give? What does one say about a death too early? I recalled our last lunch together, several years ago. Too many.