Sri Lanka marked a historical milestone in international science education at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2026) held in Vilnius, Lithuania, from July 12 to 19, 2026. Competing against elite student minds from over 90 countries, the Sri Lankan delegation secured two Bronze Medals and one Merit Award, delivering one of the country’s most successful performances on the world stage.

Organized nationally by the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka (IOBSL) and funded by the Institute of Allergology and Immunology (IAI) at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad continues to benchmark local Advanced Level (A/L) talent against world-class university standards.

Ragunathan Sheron Sahithyan and Sandanima Dulavindi claimed well-deserved Bronze Medals, while Upani Sithumdi Wickramarathna earned a prestigious Merit Award — a recognition awarded to the highest-performing students who narrowly miss the medal threshold. The fourth member of the student team, Charles Prathishan, also participated with great distinction, representing Sri Lanka with pride on the international stage. Sheron Sahithyan and Prathishan are students of St. Peter’s College, Colombo, while Sandanima Dulavindi and Upani Sithumdi are students of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo — two institutions whose commitment to academic excellence has once again shone on the world stage. The IBO is one of the most demanding science competitions in the world, requiring knowledge and practical skills at university level. In preparation for this challenge, all four students underwent intensive training at the Institute of Allergology and Immunology (IAI) and the Departments of Botany and Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, under the guidance of academic staff and using state-of-the-art facilities. Training covered molecular biology, biochemistry, plant and computational biology, animal morphology, and physiology — equipping our students with skills and knowledge benchmarked to the highest international standards. The delegation was led by Snr. Prof. Hiran Amarasekera, Team Leader and National Coordinator of the Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad, and Dr. Heshan Kuruppu, Jury Member — both of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura — who represented Sri Lanka at the international jury level throughout the competition.

Sri Lanka IBO 2026 Delegation Snapshot

Category	Details
Event & Venue	37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2026) — Vilnius, Lithuania
Event Dates	July 12 – July 19, 2026
National Organizer	Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka (IOBSL)
Sponsoring Institution	Institute of Allergology and Immunology (IAI), University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Award Winners	• Bronze Medal: Ragunathan Sheron Sahithyan (St. Peter’s College, Colombo) • Bronze Medal: Sandanima Dulavindi (Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo) • Merit Award: Upani Sithumdi Wickramarathna (Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo) • Participant: Charles Prathishan (St. Peter’s College, Colombo)
Academic Leadership	• Prof. Hiran Amarasekera (Team Leader & National Coordinator) • Dr. Heshan Kuruppu (Jury Member)
Training Hubs	Departments of Botany and Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura & IAI