The Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards (GSEA) held its first-ever event in Sri Lanka at the BMICH recently.
The GSEA is a programme of the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO), which is the premier awards programme for student entrepreneurs. Built on a mission to inspire students to start and grow entrepreneurial ventures, the GSEA brings global visibility to pioneering student business owners.   
As the premier global competition for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, the GSEA represents more than 1,700 of the prominent student entrepreneurs from more than 32 countries.  Over the years, the participating students have gone on to create thousands of jobs and generate millions in revenue. 

This year’s winner award was clinched by Buddhika Jayawardene, a third year undergraduate at the University of Moratuwa Computer Science and Engineering Department. His winning project ‘Siplo’ consisted of an online tutoring platform targeting the Advanced level education sector in Sri Lanka. He outlined that his ultimate aim was to make Siplo a global brand by making its system compatible with popular open source e-learning platforms.

Buddika will go on to represent Sri Lanka at the 2016 GSEA Global Finals in Bangkok, Thailand.  He will be competing against the top student entrepreneurs from around the world in the hopes of winning over US $ 150,000 in cash and donated prizes.  

GSEA Sri Lanka 2016 Local Chair Mohamed Fawaz along with the supportive stakeholders – ICTA, FITIS, Global Tutor, Tellida, Edulink International Campus, PayMedia and SLASSCOM – has supported this event as they share a common goal of supporting and enhancing entrepreneurial eco system within Sri Lanka and making them exposed globally. Fawaz said, “Bringing down the GSEA to Sri Lanka was a great opportunity to showcase the talents and ideas of our young entrepreneurs. It supports them to achieve their dreams and helps to make it a reality. As a participant of the previous year, I have personally experienced the benefit it could do to you and your start-up. There is a huge need in Sri Lanka to create start-ups and nurture the skills of young, budding, entrepreneurs, who are filled with ideas, creations and innovations.

I strongly believe that initiatives such as the GSEA will encourage our students to engage as entrepreneurs and monetize their ideas to reach the nooks and corners of the world, bringing fame not only to them but also to the country as well.”