Sri Lankan Team from Moratuwa University Secures Second Prize at Huawei ICT Competition 2023–2024 Global Finals

July, 4, 2024

The Sri Lankan team from Moratuwa University has made history by securing the Second Prize in the Practice Competition – Cloud Track 1 at the Huawei ICT Competition 2023–2024 Global Finals.

This marks the first time a team from Sri Lanka has advanced from the National Level to the Regional Level in Indonesia, and finally to the Global Level in China.

The team, consisting of three talented students from the IT Faculty at Moratuwa University, includes team leader Sasika Sankalana and members Varaki Vakeesan and Krishihan Raviendran. Their outstanding performance at the competition, held in China, marks a significant achievement for Sri Lanka on the global stage.

The closing and awards ceremony of the Huawei ICT Competition 2023–2024 Global Final was held in Shenzhen.

This year’s competition attracted more than 170,000 students from over 2,000 universities and colleges across more than 80 countries and regions, making it the largest offline competition since its launch. More than 160 teams consisting of over 470 contestants from 49 different countries and regions made it through national and regional competitions to reach this year’s global final.

Reflecting on the remarkable achievement, Senior Prof. N. D. Gunawardena, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, expressed profound pride in witnessing the students of Moratuwa University excel in the Huawei ICT Global Competition.

“This achievement not only highlights their exceptional talent and hard work but also underscores our university’s unwavering commitment to fostering an environment where innovation and academic excellence can thrive. We are deeply grateful to Huawei for providing this invaluable platform that bridges academia and industry, allowing our students to showcase their skills on a global stage,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Mr. B.H. Sudantha, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, noted that the journey undertaken by the students in the Huawei ICT Competition exemplifies the spirit of innovation and resilience.

“This achievement reflects their hard work, dedication, and the robust academic framework provided by our institution,” he said.

While congratulating the students on their remarkable achievements, Huawei Sri Lanka CEO Zhang Jinze expressed immense pride and optimism.

He said, “Seeing the outstanding accomplishments of Moratuwa University students fills me with great pride. Their success is not just a personal milestone but a significant step forward for Sri Lanka’s digital transformation. The future of our country is being shaped by these talented and courageous young minds, who are unafraid to face challenges on both regional and global stages. At Huawei, we are thrilled to witness Sri Lankan students making history and driving progress through the Huawei ICT Competition platform. This achievement is more than a milestone; it is an evidence to the potential and resilience of Sri Lanka’s next generation.”

After fierce competition, 19 teams from nine countries (Algeria, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, the Philippines, Tanzania, Türkiye, and Uganda) won the Grand Prizes of the Practice and Innovation Competitions. The Best Social Media Popularity Award was won by a team from Pakistan. The Green Development Award was won by two teams from China and Morocco. The Women in Tech Award was granted to four teams from Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, and Uganda. And the TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Award was won by two teams from China and the Philippines.

Zhou Hong, President of Huawei's Institute of Strategic Research, said, "To make sure everyone can truly enjoy the benefits of digitalization while such technologies are making radical progress, Huawei believes it is crucial to guarantee that digital technologies are accessible to all."

Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, said in a video message that UNESCO works to uphold the basic rights and agency of every learner and teacher when using digital technology and AI, and promote an inclusive, equitable, open, and secure digital future for all. Many thanks to our partners like Huawei for their longstanding support.

Ritchie Peng, President of Huawei's ICT Strategy and Business Development Department, stated, "ICT is the cornerstone of the intelligent world. Through the Huawei ICT Competition, we aim to provide students with a global platform to compete and exchange ideas."

On the same day, Huawei also held the ICT Accelerating Education Transformation Summit. At the summit, Huawei awarded 24 instructors the title Huawei ICT Academy Global Most Valuable Instructor for the first time. This award aims to show gratitude for the important contributions these instructors have made to talent development, and mark them as role models that show how the brightest minds can develop even brighter minds. These role models will help drive sustainable development of the ICT talent ecosystem.

The Huawei ICT Competition is an annual contest held by Huawei for global university and college students. Through the competition, Huawei aims to provide students with an international platform for healthy competition and the exchange of ideas. Since its launch in 2015, the competition has helped students enhance their ICT knowledge and practical skills, while also increasing their ability to innovate by using new technologies and platforms. The ultimate goal is to advance technological development and facilitate digital inclusion around the world.