Education

Sri Lanka’s PhD holdersrise to 11,757

Published

11 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Sri Lanka has recorded a rise in the number of PhD holders, alongside a broader shift towards higher educational attainment over the past decade, according to the latest data on the population aged 25 and above in the Census of Population and Housing 2024.

Here are 7 key figures from the report:

1. PhD holders increased from 6,557 in 2012 to 11,757 in 2024, though still accounting for just 0.1% of the population.

2. The number of people with degrees more than doubled, rising from 358,052 (3.0%) to 780,958 (5.6%).

3. Those with a tertiary education grew significantly from 2,195,117 (18.2%) in 2012 to 3,635,462 (26.2%) in 2024.

4. Individuals with G.C.E. A/L or equivalent rose from 1,724,574 (14.2%) to 2,677,022 (19.4%).

5. The population with secondary education increased from 7,079,569 to 8,096,402, accounting for around 58% in both years.

6. Those with only primary education declined from 2,214,792 (18.4%) to 1,738,942 (12.5%).

7. The number of people with no schooling dropped from 561,163 (4.7%) to 400,511 (2.9%).

Education

Sri Lanka wins first international Tamil debating title in Malaysia

Published

4 months ago

December 27, 2025

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Sri Lankan school Tamil debaters have created history by winning their first-ever international championship, securing the title at the Sampanthan Paindhamizh Chudar 5.0 competition in Malaysia.

The victory was achieved by the National Development Squad of the Tamil Debaters’ Council of Sri Lanka, making them the first non-Malaysian team to win the prestigious championship, organised by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). The achievement marks a major milestone for Sri Lankan Tamil debating on the global stage.

Education

University of Colombo discovers plant-based Cancer Drug

Published

7 months ago

October 3, 2025

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After nearly 17 years of continuous research since 2008, the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the University of Colombo has successfully developed a nutrient-based drug capable of destroying cancer cells.

The breakthrough was led by Professor Sameera R. Samarakoon and his research team, who discovered that a combination of five medicinal plants — Vernonia zeylanica, Nigella sativa, Hemidesmus indicus, Leucas zeylanica, and Smilax glabra — has the potential to kill cancer cells.

This discovery marks a significant step forward in cancer research, highlighting the value of traditional medicinal plants in modern scientific innovation.

Education

First Sri Lankan earns U.S. Navy SEAL pin

Published

9 months ago

July 26, 2025

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Lieutenant Koyan Chamitha of the Sri Lanka Navy’s Special Boat Squadron (SBS) has made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to complete the U.S. Navy SEAL training program and earn the prestigious SEAL Trident pin.

The rigorous training, which lasted 14 months, is widely considered one of the most challenging military programs in the world, with a dropout rate exceeding 75%.