The Power of Soft Skills: Transforming Students into Future Leaders with SLIIT Soft Skills+ 2026

The soft skills development program is a major project carried out under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, by the SLIIT Business School. This program, intended to go beyond typical classroom instruction, focuses on giving school going students the fundamental life skills they need to thrive in a world that is becoming more competitive and dynamic.

The program, which is intended for students in Grades 11 through 13, is open to participation from schools under the Sri Lankan government, private, and foreign institutions. The inclusive process ensures that students from different educational backgrounds have equal opportunities to improve their personal and professional competencies by enrolling for the program.

The initiative's main goal is to close the knowledge gap between academia and real-world application. In addition to encouraging creativity, innovation, and an optimistic outlook, it places a strong emphasis on the development of vital soft skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and communication. By using this strategy, the program hopes to develop well-rounded, future-ready people who can overcome obstacles in the real world.

The preliminary stage and the Grand Finale are the two primary phases of the Soft Skills+ 2026 program. The program starts with an online teacher training workshop on April 28, 2026. In order to ensure long-term impact and sustainability, this recently added component focuses on improving instructors' capacity to mentor and support students in the development of soft skills.

The preliminary rounds will be held virtually on May 9, 2026, across three regions: Malabe, Kandy, and Matara. These sessions include competitions focused on activities, quiz-based evaluations, and interactive workshops on soft skills. All exercises and questions are presented in Sinhala, Tamil, and English to encourage inclusivity, enabling students to participate in their favorite language with ease.

The top 50 teams from the preliminary stages will move on to the Grand Finale, which will take place at the SLIIT Malabe Campus on May 16, 2026. In order to ensure fairness and transparency, this final round will include advanced competition rounds and through evaluations carried out by a team of experienced and knowledgeable jury panel.

Certificates will be given to all participants, including instructors and children, and special gifts will be given to the finalists. In recognition of their exceptional performance and commitment, winning teams will also receive monetary awards.

With 50 teams participating in the grand finale and strong representation from across the island, the 2025 program demonstrated its growing impact. Last year’s winner was from St. Servatius College, Matara while Sivali Central College in Rathnapura was the runner-up. 

This program, which has received official Ministry of Education clearance, is a nationally recognized platform that supports educational goals and continues to mold future leaders. For more details contact Mr. Ranitha Weerarathna, Senior Lecturer - SLIIT Business School via        Tel - (+ 94) 0776503079 / 0764403664 or Email - [email protected]