The IMRA Foundation Guarantee Ltd. has announced the call for applications for the third IMRA Awards 2026, inviting outstanding Muslim women across Sri Lanka to be recognised on a national stage alongside a growing community of role models celebrated for excellence, leadership and impact. Applications close on 1 July 2026.

The Awards ceremony for the IMRA Awards 2026, is scheduled to be held on Sunday, 6th September 2026 at 7.00 p.m. at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo.

Founded to redefine perceptions and expand visibility for Muslim women in Sri Lanka, the IMRA Awards recognises women who have built careers, created enterprises, advanced knowledge and delivered impact across society, often without the recognition their work warrants. The IMRA Awards also strengthens equality and diversity by celebrating and elevating role models, fostering wider understanding across communities, and building a sustained national network of inspiring achievers.

IMRA Foundation Director, Fathima Aziz said, “IMRA Awards 2026 is a national call to recognise women whose work is already raising standards in their fields. Women across Sri Lanka are invited to apply, and we urge institutions and communities to nominate the leaders, professionals and changemakers whose achievements deserve to be seen and honoured.”

The Awards are open to Sri Lankan citizens, with application forms available in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The selection process will be managed under a clear and transparent framework. KPMG, as the knowledge partner, will manage the technical aspects of the process, and an eminent panel of judges drawn from across communities will select category finalists. Finalists will face an interview panel before final selections are confirmed.

Award categories for IMRA Awards 2026 are Legal, Healthcare, Banking and Finance, Education, Women in Media (including Print and Digital), Hospitality and Tourism, Architecture, Arts and Culture, and Entrepreneurship.

Applications can be submitted via https://forms.gle/v64j47jw1vtSdNkU9.

The call for applications follows the IMRA Awards 2025, held on 7 April 2025, where Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya attended as Chief Guest and presented awards to women achievers recognised across a wide range of fields.

Honourees included writer and publisher Ameena Hussein, Chair Professor of Microbiology at the University of Peradeniya Professor Faseeha Noordeen, wedding styling entrepreneur Hamna Kizar, Director of the Postgraduate Institute of English at the Open University of Sri Lanka Dr. Romola Rassool, National Tennis Champion Saajida Razick, pioneering Television Producer and Director Zeenathul Shyama Yakoob, Architect Shehla Latiff, Lawyer and Academic Shaheeda Barrie, and Education Innovator Rizka Naushad.

Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2025 were presented to Anberiya Haniffa, Sunela Jayewardene, Sivanandini Duraiswamy, and Sandra Wanduragala, founder of Selyn Exporters.

Image caption: Winners and honourees at the IMRA Awards for Excellence 2025, celebrating outstanding Muslim women achievers across Sri Lanka.