The Industrial Management Science Students’ Association, the leading student body of the Department of Industrial Management at the University of Kelaniya, is a place where innovation knows no bounds. This esteemed student body annually organizes an inter-school hackathon for the young, innovative minds of Sri Lanka, with the aim of connecting them to the industry at an early age. After the successful completion of six consecutive hackathons, fostering boundless innovation among the school community, hackX Jr. returns with its 7th edition under the inspiring theme, “Give Shapes to Ideas.” With this new chapter, hackX Jr. provides a platform to transform creative concepts into groundbreaking solutions.
As an event that has received full approval from the Ministry of Education, hackX Jr. underscores its importance and credibility as a launchpad for future tech entrepreneurs. The event unfolds in three transformative stages: the Awareness Session, InnoX—the Semi-Finals, and the Grand Finals.
The journey began with an Awareness Session held on the 23rd of August at the Auditorium of the Department of Industrial Management, University of Kelaniya. With over 200 in-person participants and additional virtual attendees from more than 100 schools, the energy was palpable. This session was designed to ignite curiosity and help students understand how to harness technology to solve real-world problems.
Students gained invaluable insights from industry experts, including Dr. Ruchira Wijesena from the University of Moratuwa, Mr. Kasun K Pathmaperuma, Co-Founder of Ceylon Exports Hub, and Ms. Pulani Ranasinghe, Founder & CEO of Loons Lab. These seasoned professionals led brainstorming sessions that challenged participants to think creatively and sparked innovative problem-solving.
Following the Awareness Session, over 100 idea proposals poured in from aspiring students eager to make their mark. A rigorous screening process by experts from Ideamart narrowed the pool to 30 exceptional teams who advanced to the semi-finals. To help these young innovators perfect their pitches, hackX Jr. hosted online workshops that guided participants in refining their concepts and creating viable solutions.
The semi-finals, InnoX, took place on the 12th of October 2024 and were streamed live via Zoom. The top 30 teams had the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of expert judges, who evaluated both feasibility and impact.
After intense deliberation, 12 finalists were selected, and each team’s name was announced across the official hackX Jr. website, Facebook page, and WhatsApp channels. The journey so far has been inspiring, but the real challenge lies ahead.
