Three young innovators from S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, have brought international recognition to Sri Lanka by winning the Silver Innovation Award at the prestigious International Creativity and Innovation Award 2026.

Pramod Mendis, Jitendra Madawala, and Kavish Hewage, aged 13 and 14, were honoured for their project titled “Water Skimmer”, a remotely operated aquatic robot designed to clean surface debris from polluted canals and waterways while simultaneously capturing environmental readings.

The competition, held on 24 April 2026 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, brought together young innovators from around the world. The award ceremony took place on 25 April 2026. ICIA serves as a global platform encouraging creativity and innovation among youth, aligned with World Creativity and Innovation Day initiatives.

The team’s invention addresses a pressing environmental challenge, offering a practical and scalable solution for maintaining cleaner waterways through technology-driven innovation. This achievement highlights the growing potential of Sri Lanka’s young minds in the fields of robotics and environmental sustainability.