Redefining Sri Lanka’s tech landscape: SLIIT Codefest 2025 concludes successfully

The Faculty of Computing at SLIIT successfully concluded Codefest 2025, the 14th consecutive edition of its flagship national and international ICT competition, under the theme “Digital Evolution: Where Ideas Meet Innovation”, on 4 September at the campus premises.

Held in line with the institute’s 25th Anniversary, Codefest 2025 brought together the nation’s brightest young innovators. The event saw the participation of 500+ school students from 250+ schools and over 2,000 university students from 30+ universities, including 60 international participants. In addition, through workshops and outreach programs, Codefest impacted more than 6,000 school students across Sri Lanka, reinforcing its role as a platform that nurtures future-ready talent.

Taking its reach beyond borders, Codefest 2025 also attracted 300+ overseas students for the DevQuest competition, further strengthening its reputation as a globally recognised event. With both national impact and international engagement, Codefest continues to position SLIIT as a hub for innovation and knowledge-sharing while shaping the next generation of leaders in technology.

The competitions spanned both school and tertiary categories. School-level participants competed in Primary, Junior, and Senior Coding contests, ICT Quiz, and an AI Competition, while tertiary-level competitors took part in events such as Algothon, Capture the Flag, Datathon, Designthon, Netcom, Cisco Technopreneur, InnovIoT, ReviveNation, and DevQuest—the latter attracting international teams to tackle real-world challenges. The finals took place at the Main Auditorium of SLIIT, Malabe, from 25 August to 4 September, showcasing a series of competitions, exhibitions, keynote sessions, and industry networking opportunities.

99X Technology Chief Operating Officer and SLASSCOM Chairperson Shehani Seneviratne graced the occasion as Chief Guest, while Cisco Systems for Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, and Bhutan Partner Ecosystem Leader Sajeewa Sapumal attended as Guest of Honour during the awards ceremony.

Pro Vice-Chancellor of Computing Prof. Nuwan Kodagoda shared his thoughts: “Codefest 2025, organised by the Faculty of Computing at SLIIT, marks its 14th consecutive year as Sri Lanka’s premier national ICT competition. This year introduced exciting new tertiary-level challenges alongside the well-established flagship events, as well as a variety of school-level contests. Bringing together thousands of students from universities and schools across the island, Codefest continues to be a vibrant platform that fosters innovation, collaboration, and digital excellence. Conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Digital Economy, and leading industry partners, the event has grown into a true national celebration of technology and talent.”

Prof.Pradeep Abeygunawardhana added, “I am delighted to witness the success of Codefest 2025, which this year featured 14 competitions spanning schools and universities, with growing international participation. The event continues to ignite young minds, inspire innovation, and highlight the exceptional talent of our students. Covering key areas such as AI, Data Science, Networks, and Software Engineering, Codefest has become a crucial platform connecting academia and industry. I am confident it will continue to shape the next generation of computing leaders.”

The following teams emerged as winners in the final competition, In the tertiary category, The Byte Force from the University of Moratuwa emerged winners of Algothon, while the Capture The Flag competition was won by 403_privileged, also from the University of Moratuwa. Data Guild from the University of Moratuwa claimed victory in Datathon, and Bitrithm from UCSC triumphed in Designathon. Kwek Kwek from Taylor’s University secured the DevQuest title, while Hydrotech from the University of Kelaniya won InnovIot. The Netcom challenge was won by Traceroute from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and QBITS from SLIIT earned the top spot in ReviveNation. In the CISCO Technopreneur Challenge, Team VisuaLit from the Informatics Institute of Technology emerged champions and further received the Investor’s Choice Award, while Miniblocks from SLIIT secured the Impact Innovator Award.

In the school category, Bandarawela Central College, Badulla won the School AI competition, and St. Thomas’ College, Matara excelled in School Junior. The School Primary award went to Buddy Book from Gen AI, Rajagiriya, while OryGen from Badulla Central College, Badulla claimed the School Senior title. Additionally, Badulla Central College dominated the ICT Quiz, securing the winning positions.

Over two million rupees in cash prizes, trophies, medals, and certificates were awarded to winners across categories, recognising outstanding innovation, creativity, and technical excellence.

Codefest Chair and Coordinator Prof. Anuradha Jayakody said: “It was with great pride that we welcomed students to the 14th edition of Codefest. Over the years, this platform has grown into a vibrant space for showcasing creativity, technical skills, and innovation. With the support of the Education Ministry, Digital Economy Ministry, and our industry partners, Codefest 2025 made an even greater impact by inspiring future tech leaders and driving digital transformation.”

Codefest 2025 also emphasised sustainability, diversity, equality, and inclusion, ensuring participation from underrepresented groups in technology. Beyond competition, it highlighted the societal importance of such initiatives. By nurturing digital literacy, critical thinking, and innovation among students, the event contributes directly to strengthening Sri Lanka’s education system and preparing the next generation for the global knowledge economy. Moreover, the collaborative spirit of Codefest fosters community engagement and inspires young minds to use technology as a tool for solving pressing social challenges, thereby advancing both education and the broader development of Sri Lankan society.