Prof. Niranji Wijewardhana, the first and only woman professor in Criminology and Criminal Justice in Sri Lanka, teaches at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. She holds a B.A. (2004), an MPhil (2008) in Criminology and Criminal Justice, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling (2010), and a Ph.D. (2015) in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She is currently pursuing an LLB Honors Degree. Her expertise includes substance abuse prevention among youth, victimology, criminal psychology, counseling, and gender studies. With 17 years of experience, she significantly contributes to teaching, research, curriculum design, rehabilitation programs, and policy development.

Prof. Niranji actively engages in professional bodies, influencing policy and practice and raising public awareness through various media. Her work is widely published, and she presents at international forums. She has received training from Uppsala University in Sweden and Monash University in Australia. She also works as a professional counselor. During her fellowship, she aims to enhance her skills in translating research into policy and writing training manuals on substance abuse prevention. She seeks to promote social well-being in Sri Lanka through innovative, evidence-based strategies, furthering her commitment to her field and country.