Dinithi Athulathmudali from University of Colombo’s Department of Economics wins Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant 2025

Wednesday, 25 June 2025 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dr. Saman Kelegama

Dinithi Athulathmudali

Dinithi Athulathmudali, a fourth-year undergraduate from the Department of Economics at the University of Colombo is the winner of the Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant for 2025.

Her research study is titled “Barriers Beyond the Screen: Gender Wage Gaps in Sri Lanka’s Freelance Economy.”

The overall objective of Athulathmudali’s study is to investigate the existence and implications of the gender pay gap in the freelancing sector of Sri Lanka. The study aims to identify the factors contributing to gender-based income disparities among freelancers, analyse the impact of the gender pay gap on women’s financial independence and job satisfaction, and provide policy recommendations aimed at reducing gender disparities. Ultimately, the study seeks to promote policies that support equitable access to opportunities for all freelancers.

23 June marked the eighth anniversary of the passing of IPS’ former Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama. The memorial grant was established in 2018 to honour his legacy of independent research and public policy engagement in the arena of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and the wider South Asian region. The Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant is an annual, merit-based award to an outstanding undergraduate studying at a university in Sri Lanka. The grant aims to promote policy entrepreneurs amongst undergraduate students by encouraging policy-relevant, rigorous and innovative socio-economic research.

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