Young Computer Scientist(YCS) Awards – 2023 Ceremony

The prestigious Young Computer Scientist (YCS) competition, a collaborative effort between Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka(FITIS), the Ministry of Education, and the University of Colombo School of Computing(UCSC), marked its 22^nd year with a grand award ceremony held on 15^th March 2024 at the Ministry of Education's auditorium. This completed the year long YCS activities which started in early 2023. The event was graced by the distinguished presence of the Honorable Minister of Education, Hon. (Dr.) Susil Premjayantha, State Minister of Education Hon. Aravind Kuamr, Secretary Ministry of Education Ms Wasantha Perera and other officials from the Ministry. Mr Indika De Zoysa Chairman FITIS and Dr Ajantha Athokorale President Computer Society Of Sri Lanka & Director UCSC along with representatives of FITIS, CSSL and UCSC too participated at this event. Awards of 15^th National Level Schools ICT Championship organized by CSSL in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, too, were distributed at the same event.

The YCS competition, a major initiative in Sri Lanka's ICT education landscape, aims to identify and nurture ICT talents among school children from an early age, fostering their development and integration into the industry. Over the past two decades, it has served as a launchpad for numerous young minds, propelling them towards successful careers in ICT technology.

Hon. (Dr.) Susil Premjayantha addressing the gathering emphasized the importance of initiatives like the YCS competition in shaping the future of Sri Lanka's ICT sector. He stated, "The YCS competition stands as a beacon of innovation and excellence, guiding our youth towards the forefront of technological advancement. It is through platforms like these that we pave the way for a digitally empowered nation." He further added, that the award winners are not only from urban areas but also from rural areas and commented that this is a good sign of ICT Technology is being expanded to cover all schools in the country.

Echoing the Minister's sentiments, Mr. Indika de Soyza, Chairman of FITIS, reiterated the organization's commitment in fostering  young talent and bridging the gap between academia and industry. He remarked, "FITIS is proud to be part of this esteemed competition for the past 22 years. Our goal has always been to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where young innovators thrive and contribute meaningfully to the ICT industry. The success stories that emerge from the YCS competition are a testament to the potential and promise of our youth."

The were nine (09) overall winners among the 34 award winners. Four of the wining projects were submitted to Asia Pacific ICT Awards – 2023 (APICTA) held in Hong Kong and won two merit awards. This ceremony recognized the support and dedication of teachers and parents for their instrumental role in guiding and encouraging students journey in ICT.

Hon. Minister of Education launched the Website of “YCS – 2024” signaling the commencement of this year’s competition.  Schools will be provided with a link to the YCS Platform to upload their project details very shortly.

As Sri Lanka continues its journey towards becoming a hub for technological innovation, initiatives like the YCS competition serve as catalysts for driving forward progress and excellence in the field of Information and Communication Technology.