The hackX Jr. 8.0 Awareness Session, organised by the Industrial Management Science Students’ Association (IMSSA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, was held on the 21st of August 2025 at the A8-603 Auditorium, University of Kelaniya. This event was a continuation of an annual initiative organised by IMSSA, the student body comprising students following BSc Honours in Management and Information Technology and BSc Honours  in Information Technology Degree programs, and it was conducted for the 8th consecutive time.

The event marked the launch of Sri Lanka’s leading inter-school hackathon, bringing together students, educators, tech leaders, and policymakers. Notably, the schools showed exceptional participation, with a total of 396 students attending the awareness session, including those from schools around the island such as Ratnapura, Kegalle and Matara. 

Among the distinguished guests were Hon. Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology; Senior Prof. Sudath Kalingamudali, Dean, Faculty of Science; Mr. Manoj Karunarathna, Director at Vidatha, Ministry of Science and Technology; Dr. Dilani Wickramaarachchi, Head of the Department of Industrial Management; Dr. Amila Withanaarachchi, Senior Treasurer, IMSSA; Mr. Achila Abeysingha, President, IMSSA; and Mr. Pasindu Kumarage and Ms. Lakshika Shankari, Chief Coordinators of hackX Jr.

Notably, the event was broadcast live across Vidatha Centres and multiple university halls, allowing students from all corners of Sri Lanka to participate. This inclusive format ensured that the message of innovation reached every corner of the island.

Accordingly, participants were treated to a series of engaging sessions led by industry experts. Mr. Kasun Dananjaya Delgolla, CTO of Surge Global discussed on “The Evolution of Technology through Hackathons.” Mr.Dushantha Ranwala from Dialog Axiata PLC conducted a session on “The Future of Artificial Intelligence.” Moreover, Ms. Pramodya Senanayaka, Senior Manager of Telco Engineering presented on “Crafting Winning Proposals,” while Ms. Pulani Ranasinghe, CEO of Loons Lab spoke on “Entrepreneurship and Turning Ideas into Impact.” These sessions provided students with practical knowledge and inspiration to pursue their own innovative projects.

The session also outlined the structure and guidelines  of hackX Jr. 8.0 to the participants. It is open to students from Grade 9 to Advanced Level, allowing individual participation or teams of up to five members, with schools permitted to submit multiple entries. Emphasis was placed on originality, feasibility, and potential for real-world impact.

The event concluded with tokens of appreciation, a heartfelt vote of thanks, and a call to action for educators and officers to encourage student participation.