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.

Sri Lanka’s Taavi Samaraweera has climbed to Number three in the Under-eleven Boys’ World Table Tennis Rankings.

This ranking is the highest ever achieved by a Sri Lankan player at any age level, marking a historic milestone for the nation in the sport.

Samaraweera secured the achievement following a run of consistent performances at several recent international events. 

His success signals a bright future for Sri Lankan table tennis.

Sri Lanka has produced South Asia’s fastest man and woman for the first time in years, following stunning victories at the 2025 South Asian Senior Athletics Championships held in Ranchi, India.

Chamod Yodhasinghe sprinted to gold in the men’s 100 metres event, setting a new championship record with an impressive time of 10.3 seconds. Yodhasinghe, who also won the same event at the 103rd National Athletics Championships earlier this year, represented the Sri Lanka Army at the regional meet.

Meanwhile, Safia Yameek clinched gold in the women’s 100 metres, clocking 11.53 seconds — another record-breaking performance for Sri Lanka.

With both Yodhasinghe and Yameek taking the top spots in their respective events, Sri Lanka now holds the titles of South Asia’s fastest man and fastest woman, marking a proud moment for the nation’s athletics history.