Ashani is an economist with a background in health, labour, and development economics. She completed her PhD in economics at Monash University in 2025 and is currently working as a Research Fellow at the Health Economics Group of Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Her current research focuses on mental health and preferences for healthcare and other goods or services that affect health. She is also interested in the intersection of health and labour economics, examining how mental health affects labour market choices and outcomes. She has published in both local and international outlets on topics relating to Labour Economics, Health Economics, the Economics of Education, and International Economics during her time at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.