Brain Busters with SLIIT Season 5 Grand Finale: A Celebration of Knowledge, Teamwork, and Talent

Brain Busters with SLIIT, Sri Lanka’s premier nationwide TV quiz programme, proudly concluded its fifth season, continuing to inspire curiosity, creativity, and intellectual excellence among school students across the island.

Grand Finale Highlights

In a thrilling contest of intellect and composure, Royal College, Colombo emerged as Champions of Brain Busters Season 5. Team members Dinitha Sandul Wanasinghe and Methindu Mallawaraarachchi demonstrated exceptional teamwork and analytical ability to secure the title, along with the Champions Trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 400,000/- presented to the school principal.

Ambalangoda Dharmasoka College, claimed the 1st Runners-Up position, represented by Thunu Viran and Karalu Jayasena, receiving Rs. 200,000/-.

Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo earned the 2nd Runners-Up title, with Diduni Hesanga Kodithuwakku and M.I.N. Chulasinghe receiving Rs. 100,000/- for their outstanding performance.

The Grand Finale Awards Ceremony was graced by Prof. Nimal Rajapakse, Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor – Provost of SLIIT, who commended the initiative, noting that Brain Busters with SLIIT is SLIIT’s largest school outreach programme, inspiring students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and develop a lifelong curiosity for learning. He expressed pride in the programme’s positive impact and further stated:

“As SLIIT celebrates 25 years of excellence and continues to be ranked among the top three universities in Sri Lanka, we remain committed to transforming lives through meaningful community engagement such as this, working closely with students, teachers, principals, and the Ministry of Education to make learning more accessible and inspiring for all.”

The event was also attended by Prof. Ayantha Gomes, Dean of Engineering; Dr. Malitha Wijesundara, Dean of Humanities and Sciences; and Ms. Asangi Jayasinghe, Project Chair of Brain Busters (Seasons 1–5) and Director of Research Enterprise & International Relations, SLIIT, who presented awards and certificates to winners and finalists.

The panel of judges included Major Lal Gunasekara (Director, Infrastructure Development Projects, SLIIT), Ms. Asangi Jayasinghe, and Mr. Darshana Wijesinghe (Assistant Director of Education, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka), ensuring fairness and academic integrity throughout the competition.

Empowering Students Beyond the Quiz

More than a competition, Brain Busters is a transformative educational journey, encouraging students to explore knowledge across Sri Lanka’s history, art, literature, and futuristic innovations, including robotics, scientific discoveries, and technology in the world .

Motivational workshops at SLIIT’s Malabe, Colombo, and Kandy Campuses provided participants with personal development, extending the programme’s impact beyond the TV rounds.

Speaking about the programme, Ms. Asangi Jayasinghe highlighted its growth since 2018:

“Brain Busters has expanded from 1,000 participants in Season 1 to nearly 6,000–7,000 students annually, reflecting its islandwide reach and enduring appeal. Today it is a national platform celebrating intelligence, teamwork, and curiosity. We are grateful to the Ministry of Education, school principals, teachers, and TV1 Channel for their continued support. Recorded at Stein Studios, Ratmalana, the show also gives students the opportunity to witness live TV production. Over the years, Brain Busters has transformed many students’ lives, instilling confidence, exposure, and a lifelong love of learning.”

All teams in the TV rounds received cash prizes, certificates, medals, and trophies, while every student participating in preliminary rounds received a participation certificate. School-level winners were also presented with valuable books in recognition of their efforts. Season 5 once again reaffirmed the mission of Brain Busters with SLIIT — to celebrate academic brilliance, nurture curiosity, and foster a lifelong passion for learning among Sri Lanka’s youth.