Gateway Colleges celebrates an outstanding international achievement by four of its students, who represented Sri Lanka at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2026 in Turin, Italy, and collectively secured an impressive 10 medals across individual, team and project events the highest medal tally ever achieved by Sri Lanka at the Olympiad to date.

Held from 20 to 27 August 2026 and hosted by the University of Turin, IESO brought together talented young Earth Scientists from countries around the world for a challenging programme of theoretical, practical and field-based assessments. The competition covered a wide range of disciplines, including geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, terrestrial astronomy and environmental science. Students also had the opportunity to collaborate internationally on field investigations and research projects.

The success of the four students followed their strong performances at the 16th Sri Lankan Earth Science Olympiad Competition, organised by the Geological Society of Sri Lanka, where Gateway students featured prominently among the country’s top performers. Significantly, all four members of the final team selected to represent Sri Lanka were Gateway students three from Gateway College Colombo and Selvendra Jathuran from Gateway College Dehiwala, who emerged as the overall winner. Gateway students made a remarkable contribution to Sri Lanka’s success at the Olympiad, with all four members of the national team returning with medals.

LosaraKulatunge, from Gateway College Colombo, delivered an exceptional performance, securing a Gold Medal for the Earth Science Project and a Silver Medal for the International Team Field Investigation. His achievement in the Earth Science Project was the highest medal awarded to a Gateway student at the competition and was a significant contribution to Sri Lanka’s overall success.

AyodhInduwara Abeyratne, from Gateway College Colombo, also enjoyed an impressive medal-winning performance. He secured a Silver Medal for the International Team Field Investigation, together with Bronze Medals for the Earth Science Project and the Written Practical Individual Test. His success across three different components of the Olympiad demonstrates both his breadth of knowledge and his ability to apply his skills in individual and collaborative settings.

Gamlathralalage Mihin Apsara, from Gateway College Colombo, earned a Silver Medal for the Earth Science Project and a Bronze Medal for the Written Practical Individual Test. His achievements reflect a strong combination of research, scientific understanding and practical application.

Selvendra Jathuran, from Gateway College Dehiwala, continued his outstanding performance on the international stage by securing a Silver Medal for the Earth Science Project, along with Bronze Medals for the International Team Field Investigation and the Written Practical Individual Test. Jathuran’s achievement follows his success at the national level, where he emerged as the first-place overall student at the 16th Sri Lankan Earth Science Olympiad Competition.

Together, the four students secured 10 medals for Sri Lanka, comprising one Gold, four Silver and five Bronze medals.

The achievement is particularly significant considering the demanding nature of IESO, where students are assessed not only on their individual knowledge and practical skills, but also on their ability to investigate real-world Earth Science challenges, conduct fieldwork and collaborate with students from different countries.

Their journey to the international stage was the result of months of preparation, dedication and rigorous selection, culminating in the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka among some of the world’s most promising young Earth Science students.

This exceptional performance is a testament to the students’ passion for science, their commitment to learning and their ability to excel on an international stage. It also reflects Gateway Colleges’ continued emphasis on scientific inquiry, critical thinking, research and academic excellence.

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Gateway Colleges has once again demonstrated its strength in the sciences, with four students selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2026, following outstanding performances at the 16th Sri Lankan Earth Science Olympiad Competition organised by the Geological Society of Sri Lanka.

The International Earth Science Olympiad will be held in Turin, Italy, from 20 to 27 August 2026. Hosted by the University of Turin, the eight-day competition brings together national teams from more than 40 countries for a combination of theoretical, practical, and field-based assessments covering geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, terrestrial astronomy, and environmental science. Participants will also collaborate in international teams on field investigations and research projects conducted in the Alpine environment.

Selection to the Sri Lankan team was based on performance in both a written examination and a final interview. Selvendra Jathuran of Gateway College Dehiwala emerged as the overall first-place winner in the national competition. He will be joined in the Sri Lankan team by Ayodh Induwara Abeyratne, Losara Kulatunge, and Gamlathralalage Mihin Apsara, all from Gateway College Colombo.

Gateway students were also strongly represented among the country’s highest achievers overall, with several earning invitations to the final interview stage after placing within the national top fifteen. In addition to the four students selected to represent Sri Lanka, Neesha Hanarasinghe (Gateway College Dehiwala), Jasmine Angela Balasuriya (Gateway College Colombo), and Jehan Gunarathne (Gateway College Colombo) were also recognised for their excellent performances in the competition.

The fact that all the students selected to represent Sri Lanka this year come from Gateway Colleges is a noteworthy reflection of the Group’s sustained emphasis on scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and academic excellence. Their achievement is a credit not only to their talent and dedication, but also to the guidance of their teachers and the encouragement of their families throughout a demanding national selection process.

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