Dinithi Athulathmudali from the Department of Economics, University of Colombo wins 2025 Saman Kelegama Memorial Grant

23 June 2025

Dinithi Athulathmudali from the Department of Economics at the University of Colombo is the winner of the Saman Kelegama Memorial 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 Ms. 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 equitable access to opportunities for all freelancers.

The Saman Kelegama Memorial Grant was established in 2018 to honour IPS former Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama’s 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 Kelgama 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.