The 2025 SLIIT Staff Awarding Ceremony “Stars of SLIIT”, held on 28th December 2025 at Shangri-La, Colombo, marked yet another milestone in SLIIT’s annual tradition of recognising and celebrating staff excellence. The prestigious event brought together over 500 academic and non-academic staff members, reaffirming SLIIT’s enduring commitment to appreciating the people who drive the institute’s success.
Organised as an annual signature event, Stars of SLIIT is designed to honour individuals whose dedication, innovation, and service consistently uplift the institute. The 2025 ceremony stood as a vibrant celebration of gratitude, unity, and professional excellence, reflecting SLIIT’s strong people-centric culture.
The awards featured dedicated segments for Academic and Non-academic Staff, beginning with the presentation of Service Awards that recognised employees who have completed 10, 20, and 25 years of service. These honours paid tribute to long-standing commitment, loyalty, and invaluable contributions made over decades of service to the institute.
The ceremony then progressed to the Staff Performance Awards, celebrating excellence across multiple categories. Academic Staff were recognised through Outstanding Teacher Awards, Researcher of the Year Awards, and Outstanding Overall Achievement Awards, highlighting exceptional performance in teaching, research, and academic leadership. The award structure included Winner and Merit Awards for Academic Staff, while the Non-academic category featured Winner, Merit 1, and Merit 2 Awards, ensuring comprehensive recognition across all levels of performance.
In addition, Tokens of Appreciation were presented to the evaluation panel members in recognition of their time, expertise, and commitment in ensuring a transparent, fair, and rigorous evaluation process for both Academic and Non-academic Staff Performance Awards.
Adding colour and vibrancy to the evening, the ceremony was enriched with a series of captivating aesthetic performances. Talented artists from the Channa Upuli Dancing Academy and renowned performer Supun C Jayalath delivered soulful dance and musical acts that created a warm and celebratory atmosphere. Energetic dance routines, cultural showcases, and contemporary performances transformed the awards night into a memorable fusion of recognition and artistic expression.
More than an awards ceremony, the 2025 Stars of SLIIT Awards Night stood as a powerful tribute to the people who form the heart of the institution. By honouring years of dedication, celebrating professional excellence, and fostering a shared sense of pride and unity, the event reinforced SLIIT’s commitment to nurturing an inspired and motivated community. As the evening concluded, it left behind a resonant message — SLIIT’s continued success is built on the passion, commitment, and collective strength of its people, and together, even greater milestones lie ahead.
A.R.B.J Rajapaksha