Prime Minister meets Lankan winning students at APICTA 2024

Seated (from left): Education Ministry Additional Secretary – IT and Digital Education Vasana Edirisuriya, Thisath Damiru (St. Joseph’s College Anuradhapura), Ramiru Wijayasiriwardhane (Ananda College Colombo), Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Dasindu Sithmira (Sivali Central College, Ratnapura), Sineth Jayasundera (Gateway College Colombo), FITIS Chairman Indika De Zoysa

Standing (from left): P.D. Madapatha (Education Ministry), ESOFT Metro Campus COO Amila Bandara, FITIS Software Chapter Vice President Kalinga Ihalagedara, UCSC Director Dr. Ajantha Athukorala, FITIS Software Chapter President Sanjaya Dayananda, ESOFT Metro Campus CEO Nishan Sembacuttiaratchy, Education Ministry ICT Branch Deputy Director of Education P.S. Sandamali 

Sri Lanka has achieved a remarkable milestone at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2024, held in Brunei Darussalam from 4 to 7 December 2024. The nation’s young innovators secured a Runners-Up position and two Merit Awards, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s growing prominence in the global technology landscape.

On 27 January, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the students who achieved this remarkable feat at the Prime Minister’s Office. She expressed her appreciation for their outstanding contribution to technological innovation.

These young talents emerged through the Young Computer Scientist (YCS) competition, organised by FITIS in collaboration with the Education Ministry and the University of Colombo School of Computing, with ESOFT Metro Campus as the Title Partner. 

Each student brought forward unique and impactful projects that addressed real-world challenges:

• Dasindu Sithmira Mahabodhi: His award-winning project in the Junior Category utilised advanced technologies to optimise the utilisation of computer resources when a role-playing computer game which allows users with low specs hardware and low bandwidth connectivity to experience full features of the game.
• Sineth Daham Bandara Jayasu-ndera: In the Senior Category, Sineth’s project is focused on providing a solution to eliminate the wastage in electrical power consumption, using neural networks. The solution has capability to identify excessive use of electrical current by household devices enabling the owner to switch-off the device or replace it.
• Ramiru Thehan Wijayasiriwardhane: Ramiru’s project provides a solution to the common problem of watering home plots and school gardens without wasting the precious water. His innovative solution uses IoT technology for automatic watering based on predictive localised weather data. The system checks the soil moisture level and releases water based on predetermined moisture levels after taking into account the weather information. 

The students’ achievements reflect not just their ingenuity but also the growing capability of Sri Lanka to foster talent that can compete at a global level.

FITIS Chairman Indika De Zoysa, expressed his pride in the students’ achievements, emphasising the importance of nurturing young talent to position Sri Lanka as a hub for technological excellence. Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya also underscored the Government’s commitment to empowering youth in ICT, recognising their role in shaping the country’s digital future.

Through YCS, students receive mentorship, exposure, and resources to bring their ideas to life. The involvement of ESOFT Metro Campus as the Title Partner has further strengthened the program, providing students with access to advanced ICT training and guidance to refine their innovative ideas. Their contributions will be instrumental in the program’s continued success and expansion. While this partnership aims to support and inspire young tech enthusiasts, it also encourages collaboration between the ICT education and industry sectors.

Sri Lanka’s success at APICTA 2024 not only celebrates the brilliance of its young innovators but also marks a significant step towards global recognition in the ICT sector, opening doors for future opportunities and collaborations in the industry.

Education Ministry Additional Secretary – IT and Digital Education Vasana Edirisuriya, ICT Branch Deputy Director of Education P.S. Sandamali, Development Officer P.D. Madapatha, UCSC Director Dr. Ajantha Athukorala, FITIS Software Chapter President Sanjaya Dayananda, FITIS Software Chapter Vice President Kalinga Ihalagedara, ESOFT Chief Executive Officer Nishan Sembac-uttiaratchy and Chief Operating Officer Amila Bandara, attended this occasion along with parents and school officials of the winners.