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Sri Lanka clinched its first-ever Silver Medal at the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Shanghai, China. This historic milestone, marking 31 years of consistent participation, was led by Lasitha Jayasinghe of Royal International School, Kurunegala.
Following the team’s return, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met the delegation at the Ministry of Education to celebrate their achievements and discuss their experiences on the world stage.
Competing against 666 students from 117 countries, the Sri Lankan team showcased exceptional mathematical talent. Jayasinghe led the charge with a score of 25 out of 42, missing the Gold Medal threshold by a narrow margin.
The team’s efforts were further bolstered by Nisal Thejana, Janith Rajawasala, and Dinal Pathirana (Ananda College, Colombo), Praveen Athauda Arachchi (British School in Colombo), and Navindu Bandara (Central College, Kuliyapitiya). Notably, Nisal, Janith, and Praveen were awarded Honourable Mentions for their high-level performance.
Since Sri Lanka’s IMO debut in 1995, the country has steadily climbed the global rankings.
The establishment of the Sri Lanka Olympiad Mathematics Foundation (SLOMF) in 2003—spearheaded by academics from the Universities of Colombo and Kelaniya—has been instrumental in providing the rigorous training required for international success. This Silver Medal complements a proud history of 22 Bronze Medals and 57 Honourable Mentions.
Participation in the IMO extends beyond competition; it fosters critical analytical, creative, and problem-solving skills essential for high-impact careers in engineering, computer science, and data research. By nurturing these competencies, the programme plays a vital role in preparing students to drive Sri Lanka’s future knowledge-based economy.
The success in Shanghai serves as a springboard for the future. To sustain this upward trajectory, the SLOMF is prioritising several key initiatives:
: Refining coaching methodologies to foster deeper, more innovative problem-solving techniques.
Expanding the talent pipeline to include more students from diverse regions across the country.
Engaging past medalists to provide guidance and inspiration for emerging competitors.
Utilising detailed performance analysis to bridge the gap and prepare students for Gold-level results in upcoming Olympiads.
Through sustained investment and systematic training, Sri Lanka is steadily transitioning from a persistent participant into a formidable global contender in mathematics.
( The writer is the COO of the Sri Lanka Olympiad Mathematics Foundation )
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Five persons have died and over 50 persons have been injured in a ultiple-bus collision on the Medawachchiya–Rambewa Road in Anuradhapura involving two Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses and a private bus.
The injured have been admitted to the Anuradhapura Hospital for treatment.
The accident occurred on the A9 Road in the Rambewa area after two SLTB buses collided head-on, before a private bus then crashed into the rear of one of the SLTB buses.
Continue Reading News CoPF calls for independent fuel pricing regulator Published
The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has called for an independent regulatory body to oversee fuel pricing and safeguard fair competition among petroleum suppliers.
The matter came up during a committee meeting chaired by MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday at the Parliamentary complex, where members examined disparities in fuel procurement costs between the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and private distributors.
Officials pointed out that while the CPC meets part of the country’s fuel demand through its refinery, private operators depend entirely on imported refined petroleum products. The Committee was informed that the two groups face substantially different landing costs.
However, private distributors are required to base their retail prices on those announced by the CPC, raising questions about whether the existing arrangement places them at a competitive disadvantage, according to a Parliament Department of Communication statement.
Members stressed the need for an independent and transparent system to regulate pricing, taking into account procurement costs, taxation and distribution expenses, while ensuring equitable treatment of all market participants.
The Committee also called for replacing broad-based fuel subsidies with targeted relief for economically disadvantaged groups and public transport operators.
Other matters reviewed included proposed standards for imported vehicle tyres and revisions to the Aswesuma welfare scheme.
The meeting examined regulations issued under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act through Extraordinary Gazette No. 2508/27 of October 1, 2026, and Supplementary Estimate No. 07 of 2026.
Sri Lanka’s economic growth has slowed sharply while inflation, youth unemployment and poverty continue to put pressure on the public, former Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said yesterday.
Addressing a media briefing, organised by the People’s United Opposition, in Colombo, Prof Peiris said economic growth had declined from 5.8% in the second quarter of 2025 to 4.2% in the second quarter of 2026.
He also claimed that the economy was now about 2% below the level recorded in 2008.
Prof. Peiris said inflation had risen from 6.3%, in June, to 8% by August, while food inflation had reached 8.5%. He warned that continued inflation would erode people’s savings and the value of their assets.
He said the value of the US dollar had risen from Rs. 293, in October 2024, to Rs. 337, increasing import costs and placing additional pressure on the repayment of foreign debt.
Prof Peiris said the economic contraction, inflation and foreign exchange difficulties had hampered job creation, while unemployment among educated youth had risen to 43%, which, he described, as the highest youth unemployment rate in Asia.
He also said that Sri Lanka had attracted no large-scale foreign investment over the past two years, citing what he said were concerns raised in a US State Department report over weak institutional coordination, frequently changing policies and tax policies.
Prof Peiris further criticised the Government over the pace of expenditure, claiming that only 28% of funds allocated in last year’s Budget had been spent by September.
He said only about 8% of the Rs. 500 billion allocated for people affected by the Ditwah disaster had been spent, arguing that institutional inefficiency, rather than a shortage of funds, was responsible.
Peiris also questioned the economic impact of the Government’s vehicle import policy, claiming that the reopening of vehicle imports had resulted in a significant outflow of foreign exchange.
He said Customs revenue from vehicle imports, which he put at Rs. 255.1 billion in 2025, had declined to about Rs. 200 billion by September this year and was likely to fall further.
Against this backdrop, Prof Peiris said the Government should use the Budget, scheduled to be presented on November 12, to introduce practical measures to address the country’s economic problems.
Former Ministers Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champila Ranawaka and Suren Raghavan also addressed the press
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