National Educator Awards honours outstanding educators

National Educator Awards 2025, held recently at Monarch Imperial, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, recognised the exemplary educators from Sri Lanka’s higher and general education sectors in appreciation of their intellectual and innovative contributions and their dedication to uplift the educational standards of Sri Lanka’s future generations.

The event was graced by the chief guest, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Semih Lütfü Turgut and the guest of honour, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Kapila Seneviratne.

Designed to spotlight impact and excellence across the education ecosystem, the National Educator Awards evaluates academics in the higher education sector based on teaching performance, scholarly work and national and international contributions, using criteria aligned with those applied for professor appointments within the UGC-approved universities. 

In 2025, recognition spanned a broad range of disciplines, including applied sciences, nursing and health sciences, social sciences, mathematics and statistics, psychology, engineering, language and literature, education, computing, law and business and management.

Teachers from the general education sector were assessed on their performance across impactful teaching, community engagement and educational innovation, reflecting the vital role school educators play in shaping learning outcomes and strengthening communities across the country.

A total of 15 award winners were recognised across different disciplines in the Higher Education Category, selected from 35 applications, while 25 award winners were honoured from the General Education Category, representing all nine provinces, selected from 166 applications. 

In the Provincial Category, three awardees were recognised per province, underscoring a commitment to celebrating excellence beyond national-level visibility and ensuring province-wide representation.

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Lifetime Award to Prof. Sujatha Hewage, in recognition of her longstanding contribution to the discipline of chemistry and her service to the University of Colombo and Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon. 

The Lifetime Award is conferred on an individual whose career reflects deep dedication to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge, with scholarship, teaching and service that have made a lasting impact on the academic landscape.

National Educator Awards 2025, with strong participation across categories and a growing national profile, reaffirmed the importance of recognising educators as key builders of Sri Lanka’s human capital and long-term development.