SPARK 2023 grand finale ignites entrepreneurial spirit among Sri Lanka’s youth

SPARK Youth Entrepreneurship Competition 2023 winner Mihindi Minupama Bandara receives her award from International Labour Organisation and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce representatives

‘SPARK’, a national competition for Sri Lanka’s next generation of entrepreneurs, celebrated the grand finale on August 21, coinciding with the World Entrepreneurship Day.
The much-awaited event saw the country’s most promising innovators, problem solvers, thinkers and creators aged 15-24 showcase their transformative ideas and vie for the SPARK 2023 award. 

Mihindi Minupama Bandara, the winner of SPARK 2023, expressing her thoughts said, “I’m really excited and honoured about winning the SPARK competition. It gives young entrepreneurs like me a platform to share our ideas, receive guidance, improve our skills and learn so much. I want to thank the organisers for this opportunity and looking forward to more events like this in the future.”

With over 400 applications received from across the country, the top five contestants pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges made up of Additional Secretary to Prime Minister Deepa Liyanage, ThreadWorks Chairman and CEO Dr. Gehan de Soysa, Hemas Holdings PLC Group CEO/Executive Director Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson, University of Kelaniya Science Faculty Dean Prof. Kalingamudali, Remedium One Director/CEO Samantha Ranatunga, University of Kelaniya Commerce and Management Studies Faculty Dean Prof. Wanninayake and Dialog Axiata PLC Specialist Sustainability Execution Rakshieka Nedumaran.

Implemented in partnership with several ecosystem players, setting SPARK apart from other competitions is its focus on connecting with youth from school level as well as commitment to fostering participants’ growth and entrepreneurial mindset. Leading up to the finale, SPARK engaged with the initial cohort of 100 plus shortlisted contestants through a series of virtual training sessions. This was followed by an intensive two-day residential bootcamp for the top 35 contestants. 
“Going beyond celebrating Sri Lanka’s youth entrepreneurs, SPARK aims to create a shift in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, through the competition, by establishing entrepreneurial clubs in schools and creating a pool of mentors and trainers,” said International Labour Organisation Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Chief Technical Advisor Thomas Kring. 
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa said, “The SPARK competition has provided a platform for youth entrepreneurship and innovation and created an ecosystem of support that will continue to thrive beyond this event. The Ceylon Chamber is committed to establishing SPARK as an annual event, ensuring that our nation’s aspiring young entrepreneurs have a platform to shine, grow and succeed.”