Umeshani Wickramanayake

Background

About Umeshani Wickramanayake

I am an economics graduate currently completing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Economic Policies for the Global Bifurcation (EPOG), specialising in Innovation, the Digital Economy and Sociotechnical Transformation. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Banking & Finance) from Sri Lanka and several years of professional experience implementing digital transformation and innovation initiatives in a multinational manufacturing group, where I focused on data driven decision making, process optimisation and technology enabled change.My current research examines 'Emerging pathways of corporate financialization through the integration of digital assets into corporate treasury management'. Specifically, it analyses how firms use financial instruments to accumulate digital assets and the implications for liquidity management, credit risk and financial stability. This work critically assesses whether such practices represent genuine financial innovation or a shift toward speculative financialization under the banner of digital transformation.Alongside this, I have contributed to applied policy research including political economy and risk analysis of Development Policy Operations following the Economic Crisis (2022-2023) in Sri Lanka. My interest also extends to climate and environmental risks, which are increasingly recognised as key challenges to financial stability and sustainable development. I have engaged in policy discussions as a seminar discussant analysing European and international frameworks for greening financial systems and evaluating proposals for aligning central bank operations with sustainability objectives.In addition, I have collaborated on research examining maritime microplastic pollution particularly nurdle spills which present complex ecological and socio economic challenges. Our project on Nurdle Pollution Impacts from Maritime Disasters in South Asia combined agent based modelling, interviews with regulatory authorities and case studies of the X-Press Pearl (Sri Lanka, 2021) and MSC Elsa (India, 2025) accidents to explore interactions between pollutant dispersion, fish population recovery, fisher behavior, and governance responses.Broadly, my interests sit at the intersection of green financing, digital governance, innovation policy and development economics. I am motivated to contribute to policy oriented research and international initiatives that bridge rigorous analysis with practical governance challenges, particularly in emerging and developing economies.