Steering Committee Left – Right: Mr. Changa Gonsal Korala (Consultant – NIBM School of Business), Mr. Amila Dilshan (Consultant – NIBM School of Business), Ms. Swapni Hapuarachchi (Consultant – NIBM School of Business), Ms. Shenali Suraweera (Deputy Director Marketing - NIBM), Ms. Sandamini Withanachchi (Consultant – NIBM School of Business), Dr. D.M.A Kulasooriya (Director General - NIBM), Mr. Kolitha Ranawaka (Director – NIBM School of Business), Dr. Baratha Dewanarayane (Head – NIBM School of Business), Mr. Maduranga Senevirathne (Assitant Director Finance – NIBM), Ms. Dilani Lokuketagoda (Consultant – NIBM School of Business), Mr. Madura Perera (Consultant – NIBM School of Business)

The Initial Official Meeting of the Assessment Council for the NIBM Best Innovative Business Model Awards was held on the 21st of November 2025 at the NIBM Head Office Board Room, marking a decisive step in establishing one of Sri Lanka’s most credible platforms for recognising and nurturing breakthrough business models. The Awards are designed to inspire young innovators to transform creative concepts into viable, scalable, and sustainable business models that contribute meaningfully to national development.

More than a competition, this initiative aims to strengthen entrepreneurship, encourage technology-driven solutions, and empower individuals to build enterprises that can shape the future economy of Sri Lanka. A key highlight of the meeting was the introduction of the distinguished Assessment Council, whose expertise forms the backbone of the Awards’ credibility and national relevance.

The Council is inclusive of leading academics, financial experts, and industry leaders such as Dr. D.M.A. Kulasooriya, Director General of NIBM; Dr. Asanga Ranasinghe, Director of the Post Graduate Institute of Management; Dr. Anil Perera, Director of the Market Operations Department at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; Dr. Ajantha Atukorale, Director of the University of Colombo School of Computing; Mr. Ajith Abeysekera, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; and Mr. Heminda Jayaweera, Executive Director of TRACE Sri Lanka. Their collective wisdom ensures a fair, rigorous, and forward-thinking evaluation process that aligns with both institutional objectives and national priorities.

The meeting focused strongly on positioning the Awards as a transformative national platform that recognises innovation with real-world impact. Discussions centred on evaluating business models for their originality, commercial potential, sustainability, and social value. The Council emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity, impartiality, and consistency throughout the assessment process to ensure that the Awards set a national benchmark for innovation excellence.

Members also exchanged valuable perspectives on strengthening evaluation frameworks, enhancing documentation standards, and ensuring transparency across all stages of the review. The evening concluded with expressions of gratitude to the Council for contributing their expertise to this milestone initiative. With their guidance and commitment, the NIBM Best Innovative Business Model Awards is set to pave the way for identifying and celebrating Sri Lanka’s most promising and impactful entrepreneurial ventures, fostering a culture of innovation that will drive the nation forward.

Assessment Council Left – Right: Dr. Ajantha Atukorale (Director, University of Colombo School of Computing), Dr. Baratha Dewanarayane (Head – NIBM School of Business), Mr. Kolitha Ranawaka (Director – NIBM School of Business), Dr. D.M.A Kulasooriya (Director General - NIBM), Mr. Ajith Abeysekera – Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Anil Perera – Director, Market Operations Department, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Absent: Dr. Asanga Ranasinghe – Director, Postgraduate Institute of Management and Mr. Heminda Jayaweera – Executive Director, TRACE Sri Lanka