Ms. Arathiya Pushpalingam serves as the Programme Associate at Visions Global Empowerment Sri Lanka, where she supports programme planning, research, monitoring, and community engagement initiatives. She brings a strong academic background and research expertise in human geography, spatial analysis, and social development, contributing to the design and implementation of evidence-based programmes that promote inclusive and sustainable community development.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography from the University of Peradeniya, where she was awarded the prestigious B.L. Panditharatna Gold Medal for Human Geography at the 2018 Convocation in recognition of her outstanding academic performance. She also earned a Master of Arts in Geography from the same university, with research focusing on Urban Geography and the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She is currently pursuing an MPhil in Geography at the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya. Her ongoing research, titled "Place and Power: A Spatial–Historical Analysis of Gendered Post-Marital Residency Systems in Jaffna," explores the intersections of spatial analysis, cultural practices, history, and gender.

Arathiya's academic interests encompass Human Geography, Cultural Geography, Historical Geography, Urban Geography, Multiculturalism, Gender Studies, Ethnography, Customary Laws, and the application of GIS in social science research. Her interdisciplinary approach enables her to integrate spatial perspectives with social and cultural analyses to better understand community dynamics and development challenges.

She served as a Temporary Lecturer in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya for two years, beginning in 2018, where she was actively involved in undergraduate teaching and academic mentoring. She also contributed as an Assistant Examiner for the National Geography Olympiad Competition (2019) and served as a Resource Person for the development of chapters and map preparation for the Human Geography course materials published by the Open University of Sri Lanka. From 2024 to 2025, she worked as a Tutor-Mentor at the Centre for Open and Distance Learning, University of Jaffna, where she promoted research engagement among distance learners and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Proceedings of the Research Discussion Forum (CODL-RDF-2024).

Beyond academia, Arathiya has contributed to research and community-based initiatives involving marginalized and vulnerable populations through collaborations with organizations such as the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), the Centre for Migration Research and Development (CMRD), and Viluthu: Centre for Human Resource Development. Her expertise in research, data analysis, GIS, and participatory community engagement strengthens Visions' commitment to developing innovative, evidence-driven programmes that empower communities and promote social inclusion.