OUR TEAM

With over eight years at Frontier Research, Nimesha leads a team of 15 individuals and shapes the firm’s strategic direction. Her work ensures that insights & advisory offered are timely, relevant, and tailored to the evolving needs of business decision-makers. She also plays a key role in new product development, client engagement, and organizational growth, while carrying forward the vision of Frontier’s late founder, Amal Sanderatne.

In addition to her role at Frontier, Nimesha is also involved in managing the family business in the manufacturing and retail space.

Nimesha was selected to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program organised by the U.S. Department of State, in November 2023. She has contributed as a speaker and panelist at various events during her tenure.

Thanuri, with over 10 years of experience within the company and a deep understanding of Frontier's operations cultivated alongside Amal, holds the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Frontier. In her capacity as COO, she leads the charge in business development, operations, and technology functions.

Thanuri is responsible for overlooking and managing client relationships with our existing clients and prospective ones. Her role includes identifying suitable client groups for our evolving products and services, while spearheading efforts to drive client adoption. Additionally, she is responsible for the financial planning and budgeting processes at Frontier. Furthermore, she provides oversight to our tech operations.

Thanuri's role extends to her integral position within the leadership team which is part of the strategic decision-making for Frontier.

Thilina Panduwawala is Senior Macroeconomist, leading macro-analysis and forecasting. He returned to Frontier in 2022 after an 18-month stint at the ADB as a consultant to its Sri Lanka Resident Mission, where he provided macro-monitoring and analysis for the ADB's operations in Sri Lanka. In his previous four years at Frontier, Thilina led work in embedding politics into economic analysis and making it an integral part of Frontier's approach.

Outside of Frontier, he co-authored Evolution of Chinese Lending to Sri Lanka Since the mid-2000s in 2022, a research paper published by the China-Africa Initiative at Johns Hopkins University and presented at the 2023 DebtCon-6 conference held at Princeton University. He has published three papers in international academic journals  on Chinese and Indian financing to Sri Lanka, and is contributing to upcoming papers including on Sri Lanka's sovereign default. Thilina has also authored unpublished reports on SOEs, sub-national government finances and social security, parliamentary oversight on public finances, and electoral demographics of Sri Lanka for international organizations.

Chayu is currently the Head of Macroeconomic Advisory at Frontier Research. He leads work in understanding varying macroeconomic risks and tying them into the Sri Lankan economic context, currently focusing on debt crises in Sri Lanka and other countries, monetary and financial sector risks, and energy sector developments. He takes a key role in in the development of Frontier's views on interest rates and the LKR, and presenting content to Frontier's clients. He has been featured on varied local and international media for his views on the economy.

Chayu also acts as an Executive Director for DaddysLanka (Pvt) Ltd, a family-run institute working in the field of special needs and mental health care.

Anjali currently functions as a Deputy Head of Macroeconomic Research at Frontier, working across Frontier’s economic research arms.

Since graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Colombo in 2022, she has been working across varied teams at Frontier. Currently, she plays a leading role in Frontier’s macroeconomic research on fiscal analysis, banking and financial sector research, while also contributing to Frontier's real economy-related offerings by leading Frontier’s credit, consumer demand and inflation outlooks.

Aparni’s role at Frontier primarily focuses on business development, client coordination, recruitment, and various operational tasks. Additionally, she also takes charge of creative designs and the upkeep of our social media channels.

Before joining Frontier, she began her career at Trailfinders – Walkers Tours, where she developed a keen interest in digital creatives and social media management. She has since expanded her expertise beyond Frontier, working with advocacy groups to raise awareness on women’s and minority rights. Her passion for sustainability led her to write for Oceanlust magazine as a subeditor, focusing on ocean conservation and the blue economy.

Recently, she stumbled upon an interest in animation and gaming development, earning a scholarship from the US Embassy to explore the field as a 3D Gaming Environment Designer.

She is a graduate of General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University holding a BSc in Built Environment (Architecture), and is currently pursuing her MSc in Sustainable Tourism at University of Peradeniya.

Arshad is a Senior Research Lead at Frontier Research, contributing across multiple areas of the firm. A graduate of the University of Colombo, he has built a reputation for unpacking complex economic questions, most recently focusing on how global events and macro trends influence both local and international markets. He also enjoys bringing a creative lens to his work, whether it’s finding fresh angles on familiar issues or coming up with new ideas to push the boundaries of traditional research.

Outside of Frontier, Arshad is well known as an Advanced Level Economics lecturer. Through his own venture, iTutorSL, he’s currently guiding over 500 students prepare for their exam. Arshad has also shared his insights covering various economic topics on multiple occasions on media, making economics easier to understand for a broader audience.

Navinda is a Senior Research Analyst at Frontier Research and a Business Economics graduate from the University of Colombo. He focuses on macroeconomic analysis, particularly monetary policy, with specific work on local and global capital markets. With a keen interest in sectors such as tourism, F&B, banking, and LFCs, Navinda has contributed to publications in the Daily FT, notably exploring the influence of tourism on forecasting models alongside his colleagues at Frontier.

Prior to joining Frontier, Navinda honed his skills as an Accounts Manager at a digital marketing agency and gained valuable experience as an intern at a private bank.

Tharangi is a Research Analyst at Frontier, currently contributing to the Economic Research Team. She also holds responsibility for managing the Time Twister team, which operates remotely. She is a graduate in Economics and Statistics from the University of Peradeniya and has completed a diploma in Diplomacy and World Affairs at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI). Her previous work experience includes working as a Client Relations Officer and as an intern at a private commercial bank.

Theeksha is a Junior Research Analyst, currently contributing to the Economics Research Team. He holds a degree in Business Economics from the Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo.

During his time at university, Theeksha demonstrated a strong academic record while actively engaging in leadership roles, student ambassadorships, and sports. His well-rounded achievements led to him being recognized as the Most Outstanding Student of the Year at the faculty in 2025.

Following the successful completion of his internship as a Trainee Research Analyst at Frontier in 2024, Theeksha continues his journey with Frontier, bringing a high level of dedication, curiosity, and team spirit to his work.

Himaru is currently working as a Junior Research Analyst contributing to the research team. He is a final year undergraduate from the University of Peradeniya specializing at the Department of Economics and Statistics and is also completing his CIM studies from SLIM. He has a keen interest in Financial and International Economics.

He has completed a Diploma in International Relations from the Bandaranaike Center for International Studies. During his time at university he was a SPARKS Student Ambassador and was a part of AIESEC for 3 years. Prior to joining Frontier, he worked briefly as a Marketing GTM Intern.

Ishfaaq is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Financial Engineering at the Department of Mathematics, University of Colombo. As an intern at Frontier Research, he contributes to economic research and operations work while also supporting social media. With a strong academic foundation in finance, mathematics, and IT, backed by qualifications in AAT and a Diploma in Information Technology, he brings analytical rigor and a multidisciplinary approach to his work.

Outside the academic and professional spheres, Ishfaaq has actively participated in sports, including interhouse football tournaments, reflecting his team spirit and discipline. He is also a proactive team player with proven leadership experience and excellent communication skills.

Shihara is a trainee research analyst primarily contributing to Economics research at Frontier. She is a fourth year-undergraduate at the University of Colombo specializing in Economics and a final year undergraduate at University of London in Bachelor of Laws (LLB).  Her previous work experience includes contributing in various capacities to think tanks, market research, as well as the development sector within various NGOs. 

Joshua Weerasingham is a law graduate with an LLB (Hons) from the University of London. He combines his legal background with a passion for creativity, supporting day-to-day operations by assisting with content production, video editing, and ensuring presentations are clear and engaging.

His previous work experience includes property conveyancing, freelance video editing and content writing, which have helped him develop both legal and creative skills.

Dianie is a Research Analyst contributing to the research team. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. She is part-qualified in CIMA-UK qualification and is currently pursuing the CFA charter (Level 1 candidate). She has a keen interest in Capital markets and Economics.

Outside of Frontier, Dianie is a private tutor in Economics and Accounting for G.C.E. Advanced Level (English Medium) students following the local syllabus.

Prior to joining Frontier, she worked as an Equity Research Analyst at a leading stockbroker in Sri Lanka.

Tony is a Research Analyst at Frontier Research. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Westminster where he was nominated for the prestigious Computer Science Award for demonstrating academic rigour and consistently high performance.

Following stints as a DevOps Engineer and Data Scientist, Tony ventured into the field of Economics, a subject which sparked his enduring fascination, since his schooling years, prompting him to pursue his postgraduate education (Masters) at the University of Colombo, specializing in Financial Economics.

Tony also formally transitioned into academia, finding himself most fulfilled when helping others understand complex concepts and fostering a love for learning. Whilst at Frontier, he continues to teach Advanced Level Economics, following an internationally accredited curriculum, at a renowned school in Colombo.