Thursday Feb 19, 2026
Thursday Feb 19, 2026
Thursday, 19 February 2026 02:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
People’s Bank, recently held the awards ceremony for winners of People’s “BizTeen” Entrepreneurship Challenge 2025 organised in partnership with the Industrial Development Board (IDB) of Sri Lanka, at a grand ceremony held at the People’s Tower Auditorium, Colombo 02.
The event marked a significant milestone in the joint effort to nurture entrepreneurial thinking among school students across the island.
People’s “BizTeen” Entrepreneurship Challenge 2025 was conducted under the National School Industry Entrepreneurship Circles Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development and the Ministry of Education. The competition aimed to identify and reward the most promising student-led business concepts from across Sri Lanka.
Following a rigorous two-phase evaluation process — including the assessment of written business proposals and a final round of presentations before a national panel comprising IDB officials and industry professionals — 13 national winners were selected.
The competition offered attractive cash awards in recognition of outstanding innovation and entrepreneurial potential, with the first place winner receiving LKR 250,000, while the second and third place winners received Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 100,000 respectively. Ten merit awards of Rs. 25,000 each were also presented to recognise promising concepts.
First place was awarded to W.K. Vinuka Yasith of Urubokka National School, Matara. Dasini Sanupama Karunathilaka of Anuradhapura Central College secured second place, while K.D. Nethmi Prarthana Dissanayaka of Thalawa Maha Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura, was placed third.
Merit awards were presented to W.A. Medhani Malithya of R/St. Agnes Balika Vidyalaya; D.M. Thenuja Ishan Dissanayaka of P/Di/Nuwaragala Maha Vidyalaya; Jananga Damsith Dharmarathna of Vidyartha College; H.W. Sanuka Ransana of G/Richmond College; H.D. Jenith Udana Kaushalya of M/Dutugemunu Central College; Y.G.T. Lakshan Thilakarathna of S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake College; W. Tharuli Dinara Hapudeniya of Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya; R.M. Susath Yonal Bandara of Bandaranayake College; K.M. Helani Dhanali Adikari of Yasodaradevi Balika Vidyalaya; and M. Szahani of M/Vidyananda College.
In parallel with the awards ceremony, People’s Bank launched ‘People’s YES TEEN’, a specially designed banking solution tailored for teenagers. The product provides young individuals with greater financial freedom while ensuring parental oversight and transparency, encouraging responsible money management habits from an early age.
The account offers a branded debit card for teenagers aged 13 to 18 with a daily transaction limit of up to Rs. 20,000, and access to digital banking facilities, enabling young customers to manage their finances conveniently and securely while inculcating financial discipline.
The keynote address was delivered by Vanilla Shop Co-Founder Akash Karunarathna.
The ceremony was attended by People’s Bank Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando; Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Clive Fonseka; IDB Chairman Ravi Nissanka; Education Ministry Deputy Director of Education (Commerce and Business Studies) P.A.V. Chandika; Mastercard Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Manager Sandun Hapugoda; People’s Bank Head of Marketing N.H. Wijayawardana; Deputy General Manager (Retail Banking and Overseas Customer Services) Aruni Liyanagunawardana; Corporate and Executive Management, as well as Members of the judging panel, school principals, teachers, and students.
