The ceremony celebrates the achievements of Sri Lankan alumni from UK universities

The winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2023-24 in Sri Lanka were announced at a ceremony, hosted by the British Council in Colombo. The ceremony was attended by senior representatives from government, private organisations, and UK alumni.

The Award judges selected recipients for the four Award categories: Science and Sustainability, Culture and Creativity, Social Action, and Business and Innovation. The awardees were recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, and for their contribution to strengthening ties between the UK and Sri Lanka. The awards were handed out to the winning Alumni by the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick.

Andrew Patrick, the British High Commissioner said: ‘The UK Alumni Awards celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of UK alumni in Sri Lanka. The exceptional contributions of these individuals show incredible talent, drive, and a commitment to excellence. The finalists of this year’s awards are testimony not only to the diversity of UK alumni and their outstanding achievements in their chosen fields, but also the transformative impact of a UK education.’

Orlando Edwards, Director, British Council Sri Lanka, said: ‘Today, we commemorate the achievements of extraordinary individuals who are influencing the world around them through the skills, knowledge, and experiences gained from their UK education. This year's awards ceremony is a celebration of the diverse skill sets and endeavours of UK alumni, the transformative impact a UK education can have, and the inspiring success stories of our winners, the future leaders of Sri Lanka.’

This prestigious international award celebrates UK higher education and the achievements of UK alumni all over the world. Now in its tenth year, the award received more than 1,450 applications from international UK alumni nearly from 100 countries, representing more than 140 UK higher education institutions across the UK.

This year’s Sri Lankan winners of UK alumni awards were:

Business and Innovation: Ms Lishni Tilakaratne, University of Westminster and Canterbury Christ Church University.

Science and Sustainability: Dr Mohamed Rishard Mohamed Riyal, University of Dundee

Social Action: Ms Poornima Meegammana, Northumbria University Newcastle and De Montfort University

Culture and Creativity: Ms Lanka Bandaranayake, Bournemouth University

The finalists for this year’s Study UK Alumni Awards 2023-24 in Sri Lanka were:

Business and Innovation: Ms Lishni Tilakaratne, Mr Aamir Salie and Mr Sushan Peiris

Science and Sustainability: Dr Mohamed Rishard Mohamed Riyal, Dr Doluweera Sachith Mettananda and Dr Iresha Atthanayake

Culture and Creativity: Ms Lanka Bandaranayake, Mr Eranda Ehelepola and Dr Ayesha Wickramasinghe

Social Action: Ms Poornima Meegammana, Dr Madura Thiwanka Pathirana and Dr Panangalage Dona Hemamalie Dias Gunatilaka

The British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick and Social Action category award winner Poornima Meegammana

The British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick and Creative & Culture category award winner Lanka Bandarnayake

Business & Innovation category award winner Lishni Tilakaratne and The British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick

 The British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick and Science & Sustainability category award winner Dr Mohamed Rishard Mohamed Riyal