Dr. Gayani Kaushalya Ukwattage is a finance academic and researcher specializing in investments, behavioural finance, and financial market analysis. She is a Lecturer in Finance at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and has also served as a Sessional Academic at Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Dr. Kaushalya holds a PhD in Finance from Queensland University of Technology, along with an MBA in Finance (Merit) and a First-Class Honours Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Her research focuses on investor behaviour, including decision-making biases such as status quo bias and the disposition effect, with work presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed outlets.

With prior industry experience as a Financial Analyst, she brings practical insights into her academic work, bridging theory and real-world financial decision-making. She has received the Best Research Paper Award at the Emerging Financial Markets and Policy Conference (2021), reflecting the impact of her research contributions.

Dr. Kaushalya is passionate about advancing financial research and fostering critical thinking among students and professionals, making her a dynamic and engaging speaker on topics related to behavioural finance and investment decision-making.