Zainab Hussain, Founder of Swing by Ryz, was crowned the winner of the EO Sri Lanka Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) 2025, securing a cash prize of Rs. 200,000 and earning the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka at the EO Global Quarter Finals. The competition, which featured six finalists, showcased some of the country’s most promising student entrepreneurs. Organised by the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO) Sri Lanka, the event aimed to recognise and support young business leaders through mentorship, investment opportunities, and global exposure. Speaking about her win, Zainab said: “Winning GSEA Sri Lanka is an incredible honour. The experience, mentorship, and exposure I gained throughout this journey have been invaluable. I’m excited to take Swing by Ryz to the global stage and represent Sri Lanka.” The event showcased five other student entrepreneurs including Chandramohan Thevaprashath – Founder, Microwe Pvt. Ltd. (ICBT, Jaffna), Ridma Jayawardena – Founder, R.J Education (University of Colombo), Saruja Theivayokanathan – Director, Faite (University of Colombo), Thivyan – Director, P.S. Digital Marketing (SLIIT), and Tharindu Werathunge – Founder, Trektin Camping & Adventure (University of Kelaniya)
GSEA is a global platform that nurtures student entrepreneurs by providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and investment prospects. This year’s EO Sri Lanka Finals, held recently at the Akbar Brothers Auditorium, brought together over 50 attendees, including industry leaders, EO Sri Lanka members, and sponsors such as David Pieris, Chinese Dragon Café, and Akbar Brothers. A distinguished panel of judges evaluated the finalists, including EO members Sid Hirdaramani from Hirdaramani Group and Raghav Gupta from Aussee Oats Milling Pvt Ltd, Dinali De Silva from Lanka Angel Network, and Jayaraj Sayanthan from David Pieris, who evaluated the finalists based on innovation, business potential, and impact. The success of GSEA Sri Lanka 2025 was made possible by a dedicated organizing committee, led by Mr. Naishadh Udeshi, President of EO Sri Lanka 2024/25. Mr. Eshan Pieris (GSEA Chair), along with Mr. Tarindra Kaluperuma and Mr. Divek Barathamanickam, played key roles in executing the competition successfully.
