Ashra Wickramathilaka is an urban planner, researcher, and dedicated critical cartographer, specializing in community-oriented solutions for addressing climate change. With over five years of experience, her expertise lies in disaster risk resilience and spatial technologies. Ashra strongly advocates for inclusive city planning, prioritizing the inclusion of underserved urban communities. She holds graduate studies from the US and undergraduate studies from Sri Lanka, enriching her global perspective.

As a proud fellow of the OMLAS 2024 cohort, Ashra is currently working on an innovative project in northern Sri Lanka that addresses marine conservation, community development, and women’s empowerment. Her project focuses on establishing South Asia's first sponge farm, intending to export harvested sponges to the US and EU markets. This initiative, launched with the support of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Environment and Earthlanka, aspires to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Ashra hopes this small but impactful initiative will continue growing and significantly contribute to environmental sustainability and community resilience.