APIIT Sri Lanka celebrated the achievements of its Foundation students at the Fifth Award Ceremony for the NCUK International Foundation Year and APIIT Sri Lanka Foundation Programme, held on Friday, 24 July 2026. The ceremony brought together students, parents, academic staff and distinguished guests to recognise those who had successfully completed their Foundation studies and [...]
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Foundation students receiving their certificates at the APIIT Foundation Award Ceremony 2026
APIIT Sri Lanka celebrated the achievements of its Foundation students at the Fifth Award Ceremony for the NCUK International Foundation Year and APIIT Sri Lanka Foundation Programme, held on Friday, 24 July 2026. The ceremony brought together students, parents, academic staff and distinguished guests to recognise those who had successfully completed their Foundation studies and were preparing to take the next step towards an undergraduate degree.
The Chief Guest for the occasion was Mr. Neomal De Silva, Acting Director of the British Council in Sri Lanka. The event was also graced by Dr. Dilrukshi Dimungu-Hewage, Academic Link Tutor for Business awards and Senior Lecturer at University of Staffordshire, UK. Her presence reflected the longstanding academic partnership between APIIT Sri Lanka and University of Staffordshire and the shared commitment of both institutions to maintaining high academic standards and supporting student success.
For many Sri Lankan families, the conventional route after GCE O/Levels has been to continue to A/Levels before entering university. The achievements celebrated at the ceremony, however, demonstrated that a carefully designed Foundation programme can provide another credible and well-structured pathway into undergraduate education. For students who have a clear intention to pursue a degree, Foundation offers a more focused transition from school to university. Rather than concentrating only on subject knowledge, students are introduced to university-style teaching, academic writing, research, presentations, teamwork, independent learning and time management. They therefore begin their undergraduate studies with a clearer understanding of what university education requires.
APIIT Sri Lanka currently offers two distinct Foundation pathways, enabling students and parents to select the route that best matches their future plans. APIIT Sri Lanka offers Foundation Programmes that prepare students for University of Staffordshire degrees in Business, Computing, Law, Biomedical Science, Engineering, and Psychology. It is designed for students who intend to progress to undergraduate degree programmes awarded by University of Staffordshire. The curriculum has been developed to meet the university’s academic entry requirements while helping students build the subject knowledge, academic skills and confidence needed for degree-level study.
The NCUK International Foundation Year, introduced at APIIT in 2021, provides a broader international pathway. The qualification has been independently benchmarked by UK ENIC as comparable to the overall GCE A-Level standard and is specifically designed to prepare international students for university education. Students who successfully complete the NCUK International Foundation Year can apply to over 80 NCUK university partners across the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, and Vietnam among other international study destinations. Their progression options extend across disciplines such as Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Biosciences, Law and the Social Sciences.
APIIT remains the only institution in Sri Lanka delivering the NCUK International Foundation Year. This allows Sri Lankan students to complete an internationally recognised pre-university qualification closer to home before progressing to their chosen university destination.
Both Foundation programmes are suitable for students who have completed their GCE O/Levels or possess limited A/Level qualifications. They provide a supportive learning environment during what can otherwise be a challenging transition from school to university.
Smaller classes, close academic guidance and regular feedback help students identify areas for improvement early in their studies. Students also learn to communicate more confidently, work with others, meet deadlines and take greater responsibility for their own progress. For parents, this provides the reassurance that their children are not simply entering a degree early, but are being systematically prepared for it.
A particularly proud moment at this year’s ceremony was the recognition of Sadeesha Swadesh Wijekumara, a winner at the NCUK Prize Awards 2025. Sadeesha received the NCUK Recognised Achiever Award, placing him among the top-performing students in South Asia on the NCUK International Foundation Year. He has since progressed to RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, where he is pursuing his undergraduate studies in Engineering. His journey from completing his O/Level education, undertaking the NCUK International Foundation Year at APIIT and progressing to a leading international university illustrated the opportunities that can be opened through a carefully chosen Foundation pathway.
His achievement also added to APIIT Sri Lanka’s growing record of success at the NCUK Prize Awards. It reflected not only his personal commitment and academic ability, but also the strong teaching, individual guidance and supportive learning environment provided by APIIT’s School of Foundation Studies.
For more than 25 years, APIIT Sri Lanka has contributed to expanding access to internationally recognised higher education. Its continued growth in pre-university education through the School of Foundation Studies reflects its commitment to providing young people with different but equally meaningful routes towards their academic and professional goals.
The Fifth Award Ceremony served as a reminder that success in higher education does not begin only when a student enters a degree programme. It begins with selecting the pathway that best suits the student’s abilities, aspirations and future plans, and with building the academic foundations needed to move forward with confidence.
As the students celebrated the completion of their Foundation studies, the ceremony stood not only as a recognition of academic achievement, but also as a reaffirmation of APIIT Sri Lanka’s enduring purpose: to inspire a love for learning and nurture leaders who uplift lives.
Established in 1999, APIIT Sri Lanka is a leading provider of internationally recognised higher education. APIIT Sri Lanka delivers full degree programmes in Biomedical Science, Business, Computing, Engineering, Law and Psychology from the University of Staffordshire, UK and Hospitality Management awards in collaboration with HTMi Switzerland.
To date, APIIT Sri Lanka has produced more than 6,500 graduates, with nearly 60% of graduates achieving a First-Class Honours or Second-Class Upper Division Honours degree and with over 90% securing employment within three months of graduation.
APIIT Sri Lanka also maintains strong partnerships with Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (Malaysia), Southern Cross University (Australia), and NCUK University Pathways to provide students a rich array of mobility options all over the world.
With a track record of championing quality in higher education for over 25 years, APIIT Sri Lanka continues to aspire to inspire love for learning through academic excellence, innovation, and industry-relevant education.
Address by the Chief Guest, Mr. Neomal De Silva, Acting Director, British Council, Sri Lanka
Welcome address by Mr. Bandula Egodage, Chairman of APIIT Sri Lanka
Chief Guest Mr. Neomal De Silva and Special Guest Dr. Dilrukshi Dimungu-Hewage, Senior Lecturer and Academic Link Tutor at University of Staffordshire, participating in the ceremonial lighting of the oil lamp
Students, parents, staff and invited guests at the Foundation Award Ceremony held at Monarch Imperial
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Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
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