Darshana Ashoka Kumara has recently defended his PhD at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He holds a degree in computer science from Sri Jayawardhanapura University and a double master’s degree in mass communication and the Sinhala language from Kelaniya University. He has worked as a visiting lecturer at a number of institutions of higher education, including the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Kelaniya, and the University of Colombo.

Darshana has been active in the country's academic and media landscape for around twenty years: he has published eight books and is a columnist and the news editor of the Independent Television Network of Sri Lanka. He has also served as a fellow of the South Asia Climate Change Award (SACCA) and was a recipient of the Asia Journalism Fellowship, Singapore. Darshana’s research is concerned with deconstructivist approaches to heritage and knowledge systems. Within HaP, Darshana will be assisting Sasanka Perera with his research on Buddhist pilgrim trails.