SLTC Research and Innovation Awards 2025: Honoring Research that Matters for Society & Beyond
Sri Lanka Technology Campus (SLTC) hosted the SLTC Research and Innovation Awards 2025 on 12th November at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), bringing together leading academics, innovators, and industry partners to celebrate excellence, creativity, and collaboration in research.
Presiding over the ceremony were Prof. Chandrika Wijeyaratne, Vice Chancellor of SLTC, and Dr. Lakshitha Pahalagedara, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee and Dean of the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies and Research. The Guest of Honour was Mr. Krishan Bhalendra, Chairman of John Keells Holdings PLC. Among the distinguished attendees were His Excellency Dr. Purna Bahadur Nepali, Ambassador of Nepal; Prof. Lai Yun-Song of Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB); Mr. Dilith Jayaweera, Co-founder of Derana Media Network; and Eng. Mangala Yapa, SLTC Council Member and SIMI & CCC-ICLP ADR Centre Accredited Mediator. Representatives from the High Commission of India and the U.S. Embassy also graced the event.
Strengthening the significance of the occasion, the ceremony was held in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Export Development Boardas the strategic partner and Derana Media Network as the official electronic media partner, enhancing the event’s visibility and outreach.
This ceremony recognized achievements across four major segments: Industry Awards spanning seven research sectors, University-Level Staff Awards, Student Awards, and Faculty-Level Recognition Awards. With over 100 applications received, more than 40 prestigious awards were presented, underscoring SLTC’s commitment to bridging academic research with industry innovation.
Industry winners represented a wide spectrum of sectors. In the Textile & Apparel Research category, Ocean Lanka (Pvt) Ltd received top accolades. Under Environment & Sustainability Research, Hayleys Fabric PLC, MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd, and Aadivaasi (Pvt) Ltd were recognized for their impactful initiatives. Polydime International (Pvt) Ltd, Global Sea Foods (Pvt) Ltd, and CEEDECS Lanka Holdings were celebrated in the Materials & Coatings Research category.
In Energy & Engineering Research, Thimark Technocreations (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, Green Ignitions (Pvt) Ltd, and Physio Life Care were honoured for their innovative contributions. TAATAS Pvt Ltd and ECON Infinity (Pvt) Ltd earned recognition in the Agriculture & Food Technology Research category. Hettigoda Industries received the award for Healthcare, Wellness and Life Sciences Research, while Pahanmi Pvt Ltd, Xiteb Pvt Ltd, and Inspirex were honoured under ICT & Digital Innovation Research.
Special Recognition Awards highlighted MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd who received the Green Impact Award for advancing environmental sustainability, while the Inclusive Growth Award was presented to Aadivaasi (Pvt) Ltd for its contributions to indigenous community empowerment.
University-Level Staff accolades included the Gold Award presented to Dr. Lasith Yasakethu, along with Silver, Bronze, and Merit awardees representing diverse fields. At the Faculty Level, Dr. Lakshitha Pahalagedara received the Distinction Award, while Dr. Lasith Yasakethu and Dr. Chamith Chandrarathna were recognized in the Honours Category. Student achievements were acknowledged with awards presented to W. M. T. ImashaWijesundara (Distinguished), H. K. Shaliya Prasad Bandara (Merit), and Ashini Sithmini Rupasinghe (Best Inventor).
The ceremony was enriched by an insightful address by Eng. Mangala Yapa, who commended SLTC for fostering an environment where academic inquiry and industrial application converge to support national growth through innovation. Prof. Yun-Song Lai from Sichuan Agricultural University, China also delivered a guest speech at the ceremony highlighting the nexus of agricultural technology research, drawing insights from his own work at Sichuan Agricultural University.
Tokens of Appreciation were presented to the panel of judges and evaluators, including Prof. Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam, Prof. Saman Bandara, Prof. Wipula Yapa, and members of the Industry Awards panel: Prof. Nalin Wickremarachchi, Dr. Azeez M. Mubarak, Dr. Ravi A. Fernando, Eng. Mangala P. B. Yapa, Mr. Haran Mamankaran and EDB representatives Ms. Gayani Wijethilake, Ms. Gayani Samanthi, Mr. Indika Sugathadasa, and Mr. Dinesh Attanayake.
The evening also featured a captivating performance by the SLTC School of Music, presented by the student choir under the direction of Mr. Ravi Gamage. The event was supported by the IT, HR, and Operations Divisions. SLTC Media Unit provided dedicated support as the official media partner, capturing event highlights and managing visual production.
SLTC Research and Innovation Awards 2025 celebrated Sri Lanka’s expanding research and innovation landscape, demonstrating how academic excellence, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurial insight contribute to sustainable national development. SLTC extends its appreciation to all contributors and congratulates the award winners for their outstanding achievements.