Lihini Ratwatte is an independent researcher and a gender/development practitioner based in Sri Lanka. She is presently the Gender Specialist at the United Nations’ Development Programme (UNDP) Country office in Sri Lanka. Lihini’s work in the development sector ranges from research, policy analysis and advocacy to the practical applications of gender, peace, and security. 

Drawing from her professional expertise, Lihini’s research focuses on the intersectional development priorities for conflict-affected women within the broader mandate of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda (UNSCR 1325). Her extensive experience in the development sector allows her to bring an applied lens to this research. In doing so, she examines how UNSCR 1325 can be used to better support women heads of households and conflict affected women. While her research is primarily based in Sri Lanka, she also examines the regional and global implications of UNSCR 1325 and its localised implementation. 

Lihini has published her research on gender, peace, and security in several academic blogs and journals including the Journal of International Women’s Studies (JIWS) hosted by Bridgewater State University. She has presented her research on the intersections of gender and peace at international conferences hosted at the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) 

in Sri Lanka; the Leiden University (Hague Campus) in the Netherlands; and the University of Lisbon in Portugal. Lihini is also a ‘Salzburg Global Fellow’ at the Asia Peace Innovators’ Forum of the Salzburg Global Seminar (Austria), where she engages with young peace practitioners across Asia. 

Lihini holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Studies, Communications and Gender Studies from Monash University Malaysia (2014); a Master of Arts (MA) in Global Diplomacy from SOAS – University of London, UK (2017), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK (2023). 

Participant in: October 2024 Fellowship: Peacebuilding and Women’s Meaningful Participation in Peacebuilding Processes