Centre for Migration Research and Development
Anoji Ekanayake (PhD, Cmb)
Anoji Ekanayake is a researcher based in Sri Lanka and Qatar with experience in migration and displacement research. She earned her PhD from the University of Colombo, where her research focused on the return, reintegration, and remigration of Sri Lankan migrant workers from the Gulf region. Her scholarly contributions have been published in international journals such as Comparative Migration Studies (Springer), Refugee Survey Quarterly (Oxford Academic), Migration and Development (Routledge) and Asian and Pacific Migration Journal (Sage).In addition, she manages a blog, The Migrant, where she publishes research articles on pressing issues related to Sri Lankan migrants. Prior to joining CMRD, she was attached to the Gender, Justice and Security Hub of the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK.
Anoji’s Publications
Journal Articles
Ekanayake, A. (2024) "Drivers of return of Sri Lankan migrants in the skill spectrum from the Gulf region.", Asian and Pacific Migration Journal.
[link]Ekanayake, A, and K. Amirthalingam (2023) Returning Home: A Comparative Analysis of the Experiences of Sri Lankan First- and Second-Generation Refugee Returnees from India. Refugee Survey Quarterly, Vol. 42(2), 180–203.
[link]Ekanayake, A., Lakshman, R., Blitz, B. K., Aghapouri, J., Javed, A., Malik, M., & Rahim, K. (2023). Gender and Forced Displacement in Humanitarian Policy Discourse: The Missing Link. Journal on Migration and Human Security
[link]Ekanayake, A., & Amirthalingam, K. (2021), ""The economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic on Sri Lankan migrants in Qatar"", Comparative Migration Studies.(Special issue on comparative perspectives on migration, diversities and the pandemic -Forthcoming).
[link]Ekanayake, A., and Amirthalingam, K. (2021), "The economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic on Sri Lankan migrants in Qatar", Comparative Migration Studies.
[link]Ekanayake, A., & Amirthalingam, K. (2020), "Impact of migration of Sri Lankan professionals to Qatar on skill acquisition and brain drain", Migration and Development.
[link]Ekanayake, E.M.A and K. Amirthalinagam (2020) Impact of Migration of Sri Lankan Professionals to Qatar on Skill Acquisition and Brain Drain, Migration and Development
[link]Ekanayake, A., & Amirthalingam, K. (2019), "An empirical study of the factors that motivate Sri Lankan professionals to migrate to Qatar", Migration and Development.
[link]Ekanayake, A., & Amirthalingam, K. (2019), "An empirical study of the factors that motivate Sri Lankan professionals to migrate to Qatar", Migration and Development.
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Books and chapters
Amirthalingam, K., Ekanayake, A., Perera, E. S. J., Piper, N., & Seneviratne, W. (2025). Bilateral Labour Agreements as a Tool for Managing Gendered Migration from Sri Lanka. In New Directions in South-South Migration (pp. 133-153). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
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Reports
Ekanayake, A. & Amirthalingam, K. (2023). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sri Lankan Migrant Workers in the Gulf Region. International Centre for Ethnic Studies.
[link]Ekanayake, A., Amirthalingam, K., Piper, N., and Perera, S. (2023), "Survey on Returnee Migrant Workers in Sri Lanka: A Gendered Analysis of Living and Working Conditions and Institutional Support Mechanisms", Centre for Migration Research and Development.
[link]Lakshman, R. W. D., Amirthalingam, K., Ekanayake, A., & Blitz, B. K. (2021). Gender and Displacement in Jaffna, Sri Lanka: Survey of Internally Displaced Persons, 2020. GCRF Gender, Justice and Security Hub.
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Academic Conferences
Amirthalingam, K., N. Suriyarachchi, R. Lakshman, A. Ekanayake and B. Sundar (2025) "Transitioning from Urban IDP Camps to Rural Life: Navigating the Loss of City Rights in Jaffna, Sri Lanka", The 20th International Association for the Study of Forced Migration Conference (IASFM20), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 21-23 January 2025.
[link]Ekanayake, A. (2024 July 3). Reintegration and human capital transfers of returnee Sri Lankan migrant workers in the skill spectrum from the Gulf region [Paper presentation]. International Migration Research Network Annual Conference, Lisbon, Portugal.
Ekanayake, A. (2023 July 3). Remittance utilisation of returnee Sri Lankan migrant workers in the skill spectrum from the Gulf region [Paper presentation]. International Migration Research Network Annual Conference, Warsaw, Poland.
Lakshman, R., Amirthalingam K. & Ekanayake A. (2022 July 30). Paths to Recovery and Wellbeing of the Internally Displaced Men and Women in Jaffna, Sri Lanka [Paper presentation]. International Migration Research Network Annual Conference, Oslo, Norway.
Ekanayake, E. M. A. P., & Amirthalingam, K. (2018). An empirical study on the factors affecting the migration of Sri Lankan professionals to Qatar. In D. Bamunusingh & N. K. Yapa (Eds.), Crossroads: Where humanities meet social sciences (pp. 105). IRCHSS-2018 and faculty humanities and social sciences, university of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
Other Publications
Ekanayake, A. & Amirthalingam, K. (2021, April 15), "Struggles of (re)assimilation: The experience of young Sri Lankan refugee returnees from India", The Migrant.
[link]Ekanayake, A. (March 2021), "Stranded abroad: The harrowing tale of Sri Lankan migrant workers in the Middle East", The Migrant.
[link]Ekanayake, A. (2020, May 17), "Covid19 Pandemic and the Labour Migrants in the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) Region", The Migrant.
[link]Ekanayake, A., Abeysinghe, S., Sanguhan, Y., & Esufally, S. (2017), "Facilitating the Registration of Trademarks: A Step towards Creating Internationally Recognised Sri Lankan Brands"
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