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Falling Walls Lab Colombo, Sri Lanka 2026

Falling Walls Lab is a unique pitch competition that provides young researchers and entrepreneurs with a platform to present their research project, business plan or social initiative. The DAAD Regional Office New Delhi and the University of Colombo will conduct the Falling Walls Lab Sri Lanka 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 26 May 2026.

Falling Walls Lab Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26 May 2026

The finalists in 2026 are (in alphabetical order):

  1. Anuji Weragoda
    Breaking the Wall of Manual Water Treatment
  2. Brigitta Tissera
    Breaking the Wall of Toxic Dyeing using Fungal-based Pigments
  3. Chalindu Yohan
    NOVALITH: Always-On Pregnancy Safety with AI
  4. Eleesha Fernando
    Breaking the Wall of Plastic Pollution in Coastal Fisheries
  5. Gayathma Weerawanni
    Jackfruit Seed-Based Gluten-Free Food Ink for 3D Printing
  6. Kalindu Habarakadaarachchi
    Breaking the Wall of Hidden Microplastic Exposure in Birds
  7. Malitha Premasiri
    Breaking the Wall of Solar Energy Storage Limitations
  8. Melissa Aluwihare
    AMR-kinetiX, AI-based Rapid Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance
  9. Pradeepa Basnayake
    Breaking the Wall of Invisible Early Dysfunction
  10. Ramlah Mohamed Kamal
    Breaking the Wall of Bladder Cancer Diagnosis
  11. Shashikala Sewwandi Karunarathna
    Breaking the Walls of Late Oral Cancer Detection
  12. Tharushi Fernando
    Breaking the Wall of Intermittent Pregnancy Monitoring
  13. Vandana Hettiaratchi
    Breaking the Wall of Invisibility in the Gemstone Industry
  14. Vinushayini Ravichandran
    Breaking the Wall of Health Hazards by Microplastics from Teabags
  15. Yogashini Ramakrishnan
    Portable Urea Detection Using a DMAB-Based Color Strip

This unique competition challenges participants to think critically and creatively.It is not just about identifying the problem but to presenting  a practical , innovative and well structured solution to the problem.All the finalists are getting special pitch training for the Falling Walls Lab competition by Dr Bhaskar Das, Manager-Bioincubator, KIIT-Technology Business Incubator, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India.

The DAAD & the University of Colombo look forward to receiving you on 26 May 2026, 14:00-18:00 hrs, at  Mini Auditorium 1 (Level 1), Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, UCFM Tower, Maradana Road, Colombo 7.

Register here to participate and vote as a member of the audience.

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Background information: Falling Walls Lab is a pitch competition to present breakthrough ideas that create a positive impact on science and society.  Convince an international jury of scientists, entrepreneurs and founders in 3 minutes!

Who are the finalists?

  • University students
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Early-career researchers
  • Academics

Ideas from all disciplines were welcome. Detailed FAQs and eligibility criteria can be seen here.

Prizes to be won

  • Winner of Falling Walls Lab Colombo, Sri Lanka,2026
    – This winner will be funded to go to Berlin, Germany to contest in the grand finale of Falling Walls Lab 2026 taking place in Berlin in November 2026
    – This winner will be invited to participate in the Falling Walls Conference for a day
  • Winner in 2nd Place
  • Winner in 3rd Place
  • Audience Choice Winner
    – This winner will be selected through audience voting right after the pitches

Announcement and Application

Call for Applications – Closed

Please note that A and B (read below) are the two necessary components for your application to be complete:

A. Video

Making the video

  1. You need to create a 2 to 3 minute video stating and explaining the problem as well as your solution.
  2. The aim of the video is to help the evaluators understand the problem and the solution clearly.
  3. It is important that they see and hear the applicant speak.
  4. No complex editing or professional film is required. It can be a simple video shot with a smartphone or a camera.
  5. As far as possible only the applicant should be seen in the video. If others are helping with the instrument, holding something etc., that is acceptable.
  6. While there can be animations in the film, a completely animated film will not be accepted
  7. There should be no voice-over/another person speaking on behalf of the applicant/machine voice.

Hosting and sharing the video

  1. Host the video on any platform (ex. YouTube, Vimeo etc.) or on any cloud server (ex. Google Drive, Dropbox etc.). Do make sure that the video remains available there till the results are announced. You will need to use the link to the video in your application form.
  2. The focus is on the concept and communication. The video will be used only for shortlisting and will not be shared with anybody except with the express consent of the applicant.

B. Online Application

  1. Fill up the online application form, remember to include the link to your video in it, and apply.
  2. Link for application: https: Falling Walls Lab Colombo, Sri Lanka (DAAD) | Falling Walls

Your application is complete only when you do complete both, Step A and Step B.

Falling Walls Lab Colombo: 26 May 2026

In case of questions contact fwl.in@daad.de