SLASSCOM launches National Ingenuity Awards 2026 to champion Sri Lanka’s innovation economy

SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards Chairperson Haridhu Abeygoonaratne (left), and SLASSCOM Chairperson Shehani Seneviratne at the launch event of the  SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards 2026

As Sri Lanka accelerates its ambition to build a $ 5 billion knowledge and innovation economy by 2030, the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) has officially launched the 8th edition of the SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards (SNIA) 2026, inviting applications from across Sri Lanka’s knowledge and innovation ecosystem. Applications are now open and will close on 15 March 2026.

Recognised as one of the country’s premier platforms for knowledge and innovation excellence, SNIA celebrates bold ideas, scalable products, and transformative solutions demonstrating originality, commercial viability, and measurable societal impact. The awards are open to corporates registered in Sri Lanka, ICT-focused startups established after 1 January 2022, university undergraduates, and school students from Grade 9 and above. Submissions must be made in English via the official awards portal.

The 2026 edition features a wide range of categories reflecting the depth of Sri Lanka’s digital landscape. Corporate and Tech Innovation awards span sectors including Fintech, Agritech, Healthtech, Manufacturing, Logistics, Retail, Hospitality, Edutech, Government, and General Innovation. Dedicated startup awards, including Best Startup and Woman Technopreneur of the Year, spotlight emerging ventures driving responsible and future-ready growth. Academic categories recognise innovative products and projects from universities and schools, while additional recognitions such as Tech-for-Good and Innovation in Internal Processes and RPA highlight impactful and purpose-driven advancements.

At a time when global markets increasingly reward intellectual property ownership, product innovation, and deep-tech capabilities, Sri Lanka’s ability to move beyond service delivery toward scalable, product-driven value creation has become critical. SNIA 2026 seeks to accelerate that transition by recognising and rewarding homegrown ingenuity.

Commenting on the launch, SLASSCOM Chairperson Shehani Seneviratne, stated: “By celebrating responsible innovation across corporates, startups, and students, we are strengthening the country’s intellectual capital and reinforcing a shift toward high-value, knowledge-driven growth. SNIA is about shaping a culture where innovation, integrity, and impact define our national trajectory.”

From an innovation ecosystem perspective, SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards Core Team Chairperson and SLASSCOM Vice Chairperson Haridhu Abeygoonaratne emphasised the importance of intellectual property and national competitiveness, “Sri Lanka’s next leap forward will be driven by the value of the intellectual property we create. Improving our Innovation Index requires us to move beyond execution and focus on ownership — building globally scalable products engineered here. SNIA provides a structured platform that encourages ideas, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship, while recognising solutions that deliver measurable economic and societal value.”

Entries will undergo a transparent, multi-stage evaluation process, progressing from initial screening to provincial review and ultimately to the national stage before a panel of industry experts. Submissions will be assessed based on originality, scalability, practicality, and impact.

SLASSCOM calls upon corporates, startups, students, and young innovators across the country to step forward and showcase the ingenuity that will define Sri Lanka’s next chapter of growth. Applications are now open at https://awards.judgify.me/snia2026