Sandya Hewamanne

Professor Sandya Hewamanne is a faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Essex. Her research focuses on gender and sexuality, economic and feminist anthropology, development, human rights, medical anthropology, and South Asian studies. She has held academic positions since at least 2009 and currently supervises doctoral students in sociology and human rights.

Her research explores topics such as global factory workers' identities, neoliberalism's impact, and labor rights. Notable publications include works on Sri Lanka’s garment industry workers, modern slavery, and pandemic effects on labor. She has secured grants from institutions like the Leverhulme Trust and the University of Essex’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

Professor Hewamanne’s work frequently addresses marginalized communities, including internally displaced persons and migrant workers. Her recent grants include studies on grassroots economic justice and post-war Sri Lankan labor rights. She actively engages in public lectures and conferences globally, discussing topics like transitional justice and feminist political economy.

Her advising includes students researching LGBTQ+ rights in Rwanda, Iranian marital dynamics, and Tamil women’s legal empowerment in post-war Sri Lanka. Grants and collaborations highlight her commitment to interdisciplinary research addressing systemic inequalities and human rights.