Gateway College Students Selvendra Jathuran, Losara Kulatunge and Team Win 10 Medals for Sri Lanka at International Earth Science Olympiad 2026
The Sri Lankan team at the International Earth Science Olympiad 2026. Image credit: Newswire.
Gateway College is celebrating an outstanding international achievement after four of its students represented Sri Lanka at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2026 in Turin, Italy, collectively securing 10 medals and delivering the highest medal tally ever achieved by Sri Lanka at the Olympiad to date.
The competition was held from 20 to 27 August 2026 and hosted by the University of Turin, where talented young Earth scientists from countries around the world participated in a demanding programme of theoretical, practical and field-based assessments. The Sri Lankan team’s remarkable performance comprised one Gold Medal, four Silver Medals and five Bronze Medals, marking a significant milestone for science education in the country.
The achievement was reported by Newswire on 11 September 2026 and represents a notable success not only for the four students, but also for Gateway Colleges, which supplied every member of Sri Lanka’s national team.
Four Gateway students represent Sri Lanka
The national team consisted of three students from Gateway College Colombo and one student from Gateway College Dehiwala. Their selection followed strong performances at the 16th Sri Lankan Earth Science Olympiad Competition, organised by the Geological Society of Sri Lanka.
Selvendra Jathuran, of Gateway College Dehiwala, emerged as the first-place overall student at the national competition, securing his place among the country’s representatives and continuing his successful performance on the international stage.
The other three members of the team were Losara Kulatunge, Ayodh Induwara Abeyratne and Gamlathralalage Mihin Apsara, all from Gateway College Colombo. Each student returned from Turin with medals, creating an exceptional collective result for Sri Lanka.
The complete medal results were as follows:
- Losara Kulatunge , Gateway College Colombo
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- Gold Medal for the Earth Science Project
- Silver Medal for the International Team Field Investigation
- Ayodh Induwara Abeyratne , Gateway College Colombo
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- Silver Medal for the International Team Field Investigation
- Bronze Medal for the Earth Science Project
- Bronze Medal for the Written Practical Individual Test
- Gamlathralalage Mihin Apsara , Gateway College Colombo
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- Silver Medal for the Earth Science Project
- Bronze Medal for the Written Practical Individual Test
- Selvendra Jathuran , Gateway College Dehiwala
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- Silver Medal for the Earth Science Project
- Bronze Medal for the International Team Field Investigation
- Bronze Medal for the Written Practical Individual Test
Together, the students secured 10 medals for Sri Lanka: one Gold, four Silver and five Bronze.
A broad examination of Earth science
The International Earth Science Olympiad is designed to test far more than textbook knowledge. Its programme encompasses several interconnected fields, including geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, terrestrial astronomy and environmental science.
Participants are required to demonstrate their understanding through written and practical examinations, while also applying scientific methods to field-based problems. The competition therefore rewards students who can interpret evidence, formulate conclusions, work carefully with data and communicate their findings with precision.
The international team field investigations add another important dimension to the Olympiad. Students from different countries collaborate on research tasks, combining their observations and knowledge while working in unfamiliar environments. Such activities require adaptability, disciplined teamwork and an appreciation of how Earth systems operate across geographical boundaries.
The breadth of the competition makes the Sri Lankan result particularly significant. The students were assessed individually in the Written Practical Individual Test and the Earth Science Project, while also participating in collaborative international fieldwork. Their medal-winning performances across these categories demonstrate both specialised knowledge and the capacity to contribute constructively to international teams.
Losara Kulatunge earns the team’s Gold Medal
Losara Kulatunge produced the highest individual result among the Gateway students by earning a Gold Medal for the Earth Science Project, in addition to a Silver Medal for the International Team Field Investigation.
The Gold Medal was the highest award won by a Gateway student at the competition and made an important contribution to Sri Lanka’s overall medal tally. The result reflects the quality of Kulatunge’s research, scientific reasoning and ability to present a strong project within a highly competitive international setting.
The additional Silver Medal in the team field investigation further demonstrated the student’s ability to apply Earth science knowledge in a collaborative and practical context.
Strong performances across individual and team events
Ayodh Induwara Abeyratne also achieved an impressive three-medal result, receiving a Silver Medal for the International Team Field Investigation and Bronze Medals for both the Earth Science Project and the Written Practical Individual Test.
This combination of awards reflects a balanced performance across individual assessment, project-based research and international collaboration. It indicates the ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a shared investigation involving students from different educational and cultural backgrounds.
Gamlathralalage Mihin Apsara earned a Silver Medal for the Earth Science Project and a Bronze Medal for the Written Practical Individual Test. The result highlights a strong foundation in scientific understanding, research and practical application, particularly in assessments requiring careful analysis and the interpretation of Earth science evidence.
Selvendra Jathuran secured a Silver Medal for the Earth Science Project, together with Bronze Medals for the International Team Field Investigation and the Written Practical Individual Test. His international achievement follows his first-place overall finish at the 16th Sri Lankan Earth Science Olympiad Competition, organised by the Geological Society of Sri Lanka.
Jathuran’s results illustrate the consistency of his performance across national and international levels, while his success in three different categories helped complete Sri Lanka’s record-setting team result.
A milestone for science education in Sri Lanka
The 10-medal achievement is a testament to the students’ passion for science, commitment to learning and readiness to engage with complex academic challenges. It also reflects the importance of educational environments that encourage inquiry rather than relying solely on the memorisation of established information.
Gateway Colleges’ emphasis on scientific inquiry, critical thinking, research and academic excellence was strongly reflected in the team’s preparation and performance. The students were required to investigate real-world Earth science questions, undertake field-based analysis and work collaboratively, all of which are skills that remain increasingly valuable in environmental research, engineering, climate studies and resource management.
The result also provides an encouraging example for students across Sri Lanka. International academic competitions offer opportunities for young people to test their abilities against global standards, develop professional confidence and establish meaningful connections with fellow students from other countries.
As Earth science becomes more closely connected with environmental stewardship, climate resilience and the responsible management of natural resources, achievements such as this carry significance beyond the competition itself. They demonstrate that Sri Lankan students possess the curiosity, discipline and intellectual ability required to contribute to important scientific conversations.
Gateway College’s record performance in Turin is therefore both an educational accomplishment and a source of national pride. With all four members of the Sri Lankan team returning with medals, the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad 2026 will be remembered as a landmark occasion for Gateway Colleges and for Sri Lankan school-level science.
This article was written based on the source https://www.newswire.lk/business/gateway-students-make-sri-lanka-proud-with-10-medals-at-the-international-earth-science-olympiad-2026/, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
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