Iresha is a mathematics education researcher and teacher educator with over 20 years of experience in secondary and tertiary education. Her work centres on mathematics teaching and learning, curriculum development, teacher professional development, the role of digital technology in mathematics education, the use of mathematical language in the secondary–tertiary transition, and implementation research in mathematics didactics.

More about Iresha

Iresha has worked in Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Germany, South Africa, and Sweden, and collaborates with international research teams across Europe, Asia, Australasia, and Africa. She holds a PhD in Mathematics Education from the University of Auckland and has contributed to several international research projects aimed at improving mathematics education and promoting equity in learning.

Her research bridges theory and practice, with a strong focus on how students and teachers engage with mathematical ideas — particularly through digital technology, mathematical language, representation, and reasoning. She is deeply committed to supporting teachers' professional growth and to fostering inclusive, high-quality mathematics learning environments.

Iresha regularly presents her work at international conferences and serves as a reviewer for leading mathematics education journals. She is also actively involved in mentoring early-career researchers, including PhD candidates, and in developing collaborative, grant-funded projects.

Research Interests

  • The use of digital technology in teaching and learning mathematics in lower and upper secondary grades
  • Digital technology task design
  • Orchestration chains (instrumental orchestrations and teacher decision-making)
  • Teacher professional development
  • Implementation research in mathematics education
  • Curriculum Development
  • Language use in teaching and learning mathematics
  • Teaching Geometry

Recent Publications

  • Ratnayake, I. G., Ahl, L. M., Jankvist, U. T. & Prytz, J. (2024). Changing mathematics education practice: A systematic review of mathematics education implementation research in the Nordic countries.

    Journal of Implementation and Replication Studies in Mathematics Education. 4, 215-242. https://doi.org/10.1163/26670127-bja10021

  • Ratnayake, I. G., Adler, J., & Thomas, M. (2023). Relating chains of instrumental orchestrations to teacher decision-making.

    Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education. 27 (4), 637-664. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-023-09580-9