Yudhanjaya Wijeratne is a highly accomplished author, researcher, and activist from Sri Lanka. His work spans across various fields, including science fiction writing, data science, and policy research.
By day, Wijeratne is a senior researcher with the Data, Algorithms and Policy team at LIRNEasia, a think tank that operates in the Global South. In this role, he focuses on the intersection of technology and government policy. His expertise in this area has led him to co-found Watchdog, a fact-checking organization that was established in the aftermath of the April 2019 bombings in Sri Lanka. Through Watchdog, Wijeratne aims to promote transparency and accountability in the dissemination of information.
In addition to his policy research and activism, Wijeratne is an accomplished author. He has been nominated for a Nebula Award for his work, which includes the novels Numbercaste and The Inhuman Race. His writing explores a range of themes, including the impact of technology on society and the human condition. Wijeratne's approach to writing is unique, as he has built and operates @osunpoet, an experimental Instagram poet that uses OpenAI technology to create a human+AI collaboration in art. This project is currently being explored in a separate trilogy of novels.
Wijeratne's writing has been published in various outlets, including Slate, Foreign Policy, and his personal blog, Yudhanjaya.com. His work as an author, researcher, and activist has established him as a prominent voice in Sri Lanka and beyond. Through his various endeavors, Wijeratne continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realms of technology, policy, and art.