Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, has been knighted in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours.
Born in Jaffna and educated at St. John’s College, he moved to the UK on a scholarship to the University of Cambridge.
The honor recognizes his 30-year career and his leadership in making higher education more inclusive.
Under his guidance, the University of Leicester has become one of the UK’s most diverse institutions.
Reflecting on the honor, Professor Canagarajah described it as a “remarkable journey” for a boy from a once war-torn land, credited to the transformative power of education.