Reaffirming its commitment to Sri Lanka’s digital future, SLT-MOBITEL partnered with the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) and the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Moratuwa, to support the successful Grand Finales of the SLIoT Challenge 2026 and IESL RoboGames 2026.
Held at the University of Moratuwa, the competitions provided an exciting platform for school students, undergraduates, and technology enthusiasts to demonstrate their technical expertise, creativity, and innovative thinking. The events also aligned with SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to supporting the Government’s digitalisation agenda while nurturing the next generation of technology leaders.
Curated with the support of SLT-MOBITEL, the Grand Finales featured a series of engaging demonstrations and competitive challenges, highlighting the ingenuity and problem-solving capabilities of Sri Lanka’s young innovators. Participants showcased cutting-edge projects and robotics solutions, underlining the country's growing potential in emerging technologies.
The SLIoT Challenge 2026 gave contestants from school, undergraduate, and open categories the opportunity to present innovative Internet of Things (IoT) solutions with real-world applications. Finalists exhibited their projects at dedicated innovation spaces including GTN Lab, ICE Room, InsightHub, SLIoT Lab, and Sysco LABS, while a panel of judges evaluated entries across two rounds before selecting the winners.
In the School Category, Team Quarista from Royal College, Colombo 7, emerged victorious with its Smart Waste Management System. The Undergraduate Category was won by Team Eluvis from the University of Moratuwa for its Smart Shrimp Farm Monitoring System, while RoboticGen Labs claimed the Open Category title with its Employee Transport Management System.
The IESL RoboGames 2026 Grand Finale also attracted strong participation across school, undergraduate, and open categories. One of the event’s biggest attractions was the highly anticipated BattleBots Challenge, which drew large crowds of robotics enthusiasts and technology fans. An open BattleBot Challenge further encouraged wider participation, providing aspiring innovators with an opportunity to test their engineering skills and creativity.
Through its continued support for initiatives such as the SLIoT Challenge and IESL RoboGames, SLT-MOBITEL continues to empower Sri Lanka’s young innovators by fostering innovation, encouraging technical excellence, and helping build a future-ready digital workforce capable of driving the nation’s technological transformation.
Sri Lanka’s garment export earnings decline 4.8% in first five months despite May recovery
Sri Lanka’s garment and textile export earnings declined by 4.84% during the first five months of 2026 compared with the corresponding period last year, despite the sector recording a strong rebound in May, according to the Export Development Board (EDB).
EDB data showed that garment and textile export earnings fell to US$ 2.03 billion during the January–May 2026 period, down from US$ 2.14 billion recorded during the same period in 2025. However, the industry registered a positive turnaround in May, with export earnings increasing 6.66% year-on-year to US$ 414.72 million, compared with US$ 388.81 million in May 2025.
Addressing a media briefing at the Department of Government Information, EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe said exporters faced significant challenges during the first three months of the year, driven by weaker export demand and rising transportation costs.
Despite the subdued performance in the early months of 2026, Wijesinghe expressed optimism about the industry's outlook, noting that the strong recovery recorded in May could help the garment sector contribute towards achieving Sri Lanka’s overall export target for the year.
He said the improved May performance indicates growing resilience within the apparel industry and provides confidence that export momentum can be sustained during the remainder of 2026.
Championing the Innovation and Creativity of Tomorrow’s Tech Pioneers
