COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, October 22 (ePRESS) – Sri Jayewardenepura University has once again brought pride to Sri Lanka’s higher education arena through the remarkable achievement of one of its brightest students, Amaya Sithumini Kalukottage, who has become the first Sri Lankan Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) Judge to earn the prestigious FIG Category 3 Brevet License — a landmark moment in the country’s gymnastics history.
The 25-year-old, a B.Sc. (Hons) Sports Science and Management student at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ), will graduate in October 2025 with First Class Honours, continuing the university’s proud legacy of producing internationally recognized sports professionals. Amaya’s journey reflects the strength of USJ’s academic and athletic programs that blend global exposure with national excellence.
Amaya also created history for Sri Jayewardenepura University and Sri Lanka when she became the first-ever gymnast from the country to compete at the World University Games 2023 in Chengdu, China. Her participation marked a proud moment for both the nation and her alma mater, as it was the first time in history a Sri Lankan gymnast qualified for this global university event, showcasing the growing international presence of J’pura University’s sports science and gymnastics excellence.
A former National Gymnastics Champion (2023) and a distinguished alumna of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Amaya has long been a trailblazer for Sri Lankan gymnastics. She made history as the first-ever Sri Lankan gymnast to compete at the FISU World University Games 2023 in Chengdu, China. Her career as a gymnast also includes representing Sri Lanka at two Commonwealth Games — Birmingham 2022 and Gold Coast 2018 — as well as the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Thailand (2017) and Uzbekistan (2014).
She also captained the national team at the Central South Asian Gymnastics Championship 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where Sri Lanka won the bronze medal.
Amaya’s transformation from athlete to international judge began in 2023 with the National Gymnastics Association of Sri Lanka, where she quickly proved her mettle as an emerging official. Her successful completion of the FIG Judges Course (XVI Cycle 2025–2028) in Doha, Qatar, earned her the Category 3 Brevet License — making her the first Sri Lankan woman to achieve this honour.
Currently, Amaya is among only six Category 3 WAG Judges in South Asia. She recently made her international judging debut at the Asian Gymnastics Championships 2025 in Jecheon, Korea, where she was not only the first Sri Lankan judge to officiate at that level but also the youngest on the entire panel, working alongside some of Asia’s most experienced officials.
Her academic path has been equally outstanding. Amaya completed her internship at Edith Cowan University and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries in Western Australia under the USJ–ECU international partnership, which broadened her global exposure and strengthened her understanding of sports management and governance.
Amaya’s achievement stands as a shining example of how the University of Sri Jayewardenepura continues to nurture globally competent graduates who bring honour to both the nation and their alma mater. Her success not only highlights the rise of Sri Lankan gymnastics but also highlights the university’s growing role as a centre of sporting excellence in South Asia.
