Laleema was a research manager at LIRNEasia.
She managed the Ford Foundation-funded projects on “Facilitating and enriching policy discourse on improving broadband access by the poor” and “Enhancing broadband policy discourse in Nepal, with emphasis on inclusion of the differently abled”. Her work as a the project manager involved a research study to assess the potential of broadband networks for rural connectivity in India, nationally representative research on Internet and mobile access and use in Indonesia and Internet and mobile access and use survey in Nepal with a special focus on those living with disability, capacity building courses on “How to Engage in Broadband Policy and Regulatory Processes” in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and management of a single window of information related to broadband that may be needed by a policy maker in the Asian region in the form of a website. She also managed a component of the IDRC funded research on Inclusion in business process outsourcing. This research focused on the employability of lower income individuals in online work platforms in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. She was a team member of the IGF Academy funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. This academy aims to foster freedom of expression on the Internet and inclusive and transparent national Internet governance and policy processes. Laleema managed social media (Facebook, twitter) of LIRNEasia in 2015 and 2016. Her research interests are regional development and planning.
Prior to joining LIRNEasia Laleema worked as an intern in International water management institute (IWMI). During her stay at IWMI, she studied the small tanks and cascade systems of Sri Lanka. She also worked as a research assistant at the Project Consultancy Unit of the University of Moratuwa on the project titled “Climate Resilient Action Plans for Coastal Urban Areas of Sri Lanka- CCSL”. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Town and Country Planning and is level 2 qualified in Professional Qualification in Human Resources Management (PQHRM). She has also passed qualifying examination of the Charted Membership of Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka.