National AI Awards 2026

AI Awards Categories
04

Categories

16

Awards

Recognizing the best AI solutions, leaders, and innovators.

Send Your Applications

Showcase your AI innovation on a national stage. Submit your solutions and compete for recognition across 16 award categories.

Apply Now
Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
1

National AI Excellence Award

The top award: best overall AI solution across all sectors

2

National AI Leadership Excellence Award

Sri Lanka AI Transformation Leader of the Year - Individual

3

National AI Impact Excellence Award

Government, societal, and economic transformation use cases

4

National AI Export Excellence Award

Export growth, trade facilitation, supply chain optimization, and global market competitiveness

5

Best AI Solution in Agriculture

Precision agriculture, smart farming, agri-tech innovation, and food security

6

Best AI Solution in Banking, Finance & Insurance

BFSI innovation and analytics

7

Best AI Solution in Healthcare & Life Sciences

Patient care, diagnostics, hospital automation

8

Best AI Solution in Manufacturing and Industry 5.0

Smart factories, automation, IIoT + AI

9

Best AI Solution in Education

AI solutions transforming teaching, learning, educational administration, and student outcomes

10

Best AI Solution in Media

AI-driven innovations transforming media production, journalism, broadcasting, and content creation

11

Best AI Startup / MSME Innovation

High-growth, scalable AI startups

12

Best Agentic AI Solution

AI agents, Intelligent Process Automation, LLMs, Copilots

13

Best Sinhala/Tamil AI & Localisation Innovation

Strategic differentiation for Sri Lanka

14

University AI Innovation

Outstanding AI research, innovation, and solutions developed by universities and higher education institutions

15

Women in AI Leadership

Recognizing women who are scaling AI solutions - Individual

A

AI Educational Content Creator Award

Educational, training, knowlegde-sharing, STEM, language or professional development content that delivers measurable learning impact.

B

AI Video & Storytelling Creator Award

AI-generated or AI-assisted video production, filmmaking, animation and digital storytelling.

C

AI Social Impact Content Creator Award

AI-generated or AI-assisted content to address national priorities such as education, sustainability, healthcare awareness, digital literacy, inclusion, community development, and social good.

D

AI FutureTech Content Creator Award

Emerging technologies such as AI, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Digital Twins, Autonomous Systems, Space Tech, and Human-AI Collaboration.

E

AI Cultural Heritage & Tourism Content Award

AI-assisted content promoting Sri Lankan culture, heritage, tourism, arts, traditions, and national identity.

Eligibility Criteria

General Eligibility Criteria

  • The submitted solution must demonstrate the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a core component.
  • The solution must align with the selected award category.
  • The submitted solution must have been developed, implemented, or significantly enhanced within the last 12 months prior to the application closing date.
  • The applicant must own or have the necessary intellectual property rights or authorization to submit the solution.
  • The application must be complete and supported by the required documentation.
  • Applicants may submit multiple entries, provided each entry is for a different AI solution.
  • Shortlisted applicants may be required to present or demonstrate their solution before the judging panel.
  • National AI Leadership award and Women in AI Leadership Award - Applicants should share details on the projects they have involved in and leadership provided, along with their linkedin profiles and CVs. Applicants should have led or played a key leadership role in AI-related projects, initiatives, programmes, or organizations.

Startup Category – Eligibility Criteria

  • The applicant must be a startup that has been in operation for less than eight (8) years as of the application closing date.
  • The startup must have an AI-based product or solution as its core offering.
  • The solution must be at the commercial deployment stage (Revenue generating).
  • The solution must demonstrate innovation, scalability, and commercial potential.
  • The applicant must own or have the necessary intellectual property rights to the submitted solution.
  • Shortlisted applicants may be required to present or demonstrate their solution before the judging panel.

Evaluation Process

A rigorous three-stage evaluation journey to identify the best AI solutions and leaders.

Stage 1

Submission Screening

  • Eligibility verification
  • Completeness and compliance review
  • Initial screening of all submissions
  • Preliminary screening coordinated by the organizing committee and the members of the evaluation panel
Stage 2

Hybrid Evaluation & Viva

  • Shortlisted applicants invited for presentations and viva sessions
  • Local judges participate physically
  • International judges join virtually
  • Interactive Q&A and solution demonstrations
  • Top finalists selected for each category
Stage 3

Final Jury Decision

  • Grand Jury reviews evaluation results
  • Final deliberation
  • Winners and Runner-Ups selected

Evaluation Criteria

Organizational Awards Categories

One unified scoring framework applied consistently across the 13 award categories.

Innovation & Originality
Novelty of the AI solution, creativity, and uniqueness compared to existing approaches.
Measurable Impact
Demonstrated business, societal, or national impact supported by measurable outcomes, KPIs, revenue or evidence.
Technical Excellence
AI architecture, technical implementation, robustness, performance, and engineering quality.
Responsible AI & Governance
Ethical AI practices, transparency, fairness, privacy, security, and regulatory compliance.
Scalability & Sustainability
Ability to scale, long-term viability, maintainability, and adaptability.
Execution & Evidence
Quality of implementation, supporting documentation, demonstrations, customer validation, and measurable proof.

Individual Award Categories

One unified scoring framework applied consistently for the 2 individual award categories.

Strategic AI Vision & Leadership
Evidence that the leader has developed and championed an AI strategy, secured executive sponsorship, positioned AI as a strategic capability, and created an AI-enabled culture.
Business & Societal Impact
Demonstrated measurable outcomes through AI.
Responsible AI Leadership
Leadership in AI governance, data governance, ethics, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
Innovation & Thought Leadership
Contribution to advancing AI practice.
Talent & Workforce Development
Investment in capability building.
Ecosystem & National Contribution
Contribution beyond the organization.