AIA Insurance Lanka has announced the winners of the AIA Healthiest Schools Programme 2026, recognising schools across Sri Lanka for their efforts to promote holistic student health and wellbeing.
The awards ceremony brought together students, teachers, education sector representatives, regulators, school communities and AIA leadership to celebrate initiatives aimed at creating healthier learning environments and encouraging positive lifestyle habits among young people.
Now in its second year in Sri Lanka, the AIA Healthiest Schools Programme has established itself as a national platform focused on improving student wellbeing through four key pillars: Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyles, Mental Wellbeing, and Health & Sustainability. Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, the 2025/26 edition attracted a record number of submissions, highlighting the growing commitment among schools to place health and wellbeing at the centre of education.
Participating schools presented a diverse range of projects demonstrating how schools can contribute to healthier and more sustainable communities. Several initiatives extended beyond the classroom to involve families and local communities, while delivering measurable and lasting outcomes. A panel of judges evaluated the submissions based on the impact, innovation and sustainability of each project.
In the Primary School Category, A/Mankadawala Maha Vidyalaya was named the Winner, with Unagaswela Primary School securing 1st Runner-up, Subharathi Mahamathya Maha Vidyalaya named 2nd Runner-up, and MR/Hemachandra Maha Vidyalaya receiving the 3rd Runner-up award.
In the Secondary School Category, WP/MT/Nauththuduwa Maha Vidyalaya emerged as the Winner, while G/Amugoda Maha Vidyalaya was named 1st Runner-up. Jaffna Hindu College secured 2nd Runner-up, with Ku/Yatiwala Sri Gunananda Vidyalaya receiving the 3rd Runner-up award.
Beyond national recognition, the winning schools collectively received USD 75,000 in prize money to further develop and expand their health and wellbeing initiatives, enabling them to create a greater impact within their respective school communities.
Stakeholders Convene to Advance Development of Sri Lanka’s Cashew Sector
The Ministry of Science and Technology has pledged technical and research support to strengthen the development of Sri Lanka’s cashew sector.
As an initial step, a stakeholder discussion was held under the patronage of Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena to exchange views on the technical, research and operational challenges currently facing cashew cultivation as a plantation crop, as well as those expected to emerge in the future.
The discussion reviewed the current state of Sri Lanka’s cashew industry, including the extent of land under formal cultivation, opportunities to expand cultivation and the factors influencing the sector’s development.
It was revealed that the average yield of a cashew tree in Sri Lanka is currently around 4–5kg, compared with approximately 20kg per tree achieved in some other countries through the adoption of modern technologies and improved cultivation practices.
Stakeholders also highlighted a shortage of planting material. While approximately one million plants are estimated to be required annually to support advanced cashew cultivation in Sri Lanka, current production is limited to around 300,000–400,000 plants. They stressed the need for a long-term approach, including the development of scientific methods for producing high-quality grafted plants to meet future demand.
Minister Abeysena said steps would be taken to support research institutions under the Ministry in identifying new and improved cashew varieties, increasing productivity, addressing existing research and technological gaps, and developing the grafted plants and quality seeds required by the industry. He also highlighted the potential of advanced tissue culture techniques to support the sector’s expansion.
The Minister further noted that funding could be allocated for targeted research based on clearly identified priority areas within the cashew sector.
He also emphasised the importance of strengthening strategic partnerships between the government and private sector, while establishing mechanisms to facilitate the importation of high-yielding cashew germplasm from other countries through robust Memoranda of Understanding.
AIA Insurance Lanka Reveals Winners of the AIA Healthiest Schools Competition
