dr. SMS (Shyamika) Jayasundara - Smits

Biography

My research and teaching focuses broadly on the inter-connections of Governance, Development, Violent conflict and Peace(building). More specifically, I am interested in politics of war and peace, state building, trauma and psychosocial healing in post-war contexts, war economy, dynamics and challenges in post-war transitions, security sector reform in post-war scenarios, civil-military Relations, external interventions in fragile and conflict areas, visual peace research, nexus of media and violent conflict and gender and security.

South Asia  and Sri Lanka are my main geographical areas of  specialization, but I have developed thematic expertise on conflict and peace in other geographical areas as well.

I hold a PhD in Development Studies from International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, MA Degree in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia, USA, Graduate Certificate on Peace Research from Oslo University, Norway and BA (Hons.)in International Relations from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.