News & Announcements

Ms. Lahiru Nirasha Tharamasinghe, a second-year student in the Graduate School of International Management (GSIM), won First Prize at the prestigious FALIA Essay Competition 2025, and the awards ceremony was held in Tokyo on January 30, 2026.

Below is a comment from Ms. Lahiru Nirasha Tharamasinghe：

“I am truly grateful and honored to have received the First Prize at the FALIA Award Ceremony held in Tokyo on January 30, 2026.
Representing IUJ at this prestigious event was a truly humbling experience, and I had the privilege of presenting my essay titled ‘Bridging the Protection Gap: Enhancing Life Insurance Accessibility and Inclusion for Individuals with Congenital Disabilities in Sri Lanka.’

Moreover, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to IUJ for the continuous support and enriching academic environment that inspired this work. My sincere thanks go to Professor Ying Ying Zhang Zhang, Professor Cooray, and my supervisor, Professor Comai, for their invaluable guidance, encouragement, and mentorship throughout this journey.

Winning this award is not only a personal milestone but also a meaningful reminder of the power of research to create social impact. I remain committed to continuing this journey of bridging gaps and building a more inclusive financial landscape.”

The award-winning essay, “Bridging the Protection Gap: Enhancing Life Insurance Accessibility and Inclusion for Individuals with Congenital Disabilities in Sri Lanka,” was highly commended for its insightful analysis of critical challenges facing the life insurance sector, as well as for its innovative and practical policy recommendations. The research presents concrete solutions aimed at improving accessibility and inclusion in life insurance for individuals with congenital disabilities.