Miss Universe Sri Lanka (formerly known as Miss Ceylon) is a national pageant in Sri Lanka to choose ambassador for the Miss Universe pageant.
History Miss Ceylon The first national beauty pageant in Sri Lanka, initially titled Miss Ceylon, began in 1953 with Manel Illangakoon of Colombo as its first titleholder, who subsequently represented the nation at the Miss World 1953 pageant, finishing as 3rd Runner-up. The contest is considered the oldest national pageant in Sri Lanka.
The national pageant winner was typically crowned to represent the country at Miss World, with runners-up historically delegated to pageants like Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Asia Pacific International. Sri Lanka has one international winner from Miss Asia Pacific International, Rosy Senanayake in 1981, she was crowned the official winner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The first Miss Ceylon debuted at Miss Universe 1955 with Maureen Neliya Hingert where she placed 2nd Runner-Up.
Miss Sri Lanka In 1973 Ceylon changed its name as Sri Lanka as permanent. In 1997 beauty pageant in Sri Lanka had separated and did not exist at Miss Universe until 2004 where Sri Lanka had no national franchise holder in that period. Shivanthini Dharmasiri is the last Miss Sri Lanka who represented the country at Miss Universe 1996.
Miss Sri Lanka Universe In 2005 Sri Lanka Rozanne Dias competed at Miss Universe 2005 after eight years. Between 2005 and 2018 the pageant was under Mrs. Rosita Wickramasinghe, who served as the National Director for Miss Universe Sri Lanka. Beginning in 2024, Nirmal Bandara took over the Miss Universe license in Sri Lanka as the National Director.
National franchise holders Miss Sri Lanka has become national franchise holder for Miss Universe and Miss International.
Titleholders YearMiss Sri LankaDistrictNotes 1953 Manel Illangakoon Colombo 1954 Jeannette de Jonk Colombo 1955 Maureen Neliya Hingert Colombo 1957 Camellia Rosalia Perera Colombo 1960 Yvonne Eileen Gunawardene Colombo 1961 Kamala Athauda Kalutara 1962 Yvonne D'Rozario Colombo 1963 Manel de Silva Colombo 1964 Dona Annette Felicia Kulatunga Colombo 1965 Shirlene Minerva de Silva Colombo 1966 Lorraine Roosmalecocq Colombo 1967 Seedevi de Zoysas Tewaitta Ragama Colombo 1968 Sheila Jayatilleke Colombo 1969 Marlene Beverly Seneveratne Colombo 1970 Yolanda Shahzadi Ahlip Colombo 1971 Gail Abayasinghe Colombo 1972 Damayanthi Gunewardena Colombo 1973 Shiranthi Wickremesinghe Badulla 1974 Melani Irene Wijendra Colombo 1975 Shyama Hiramya Algama Colombo 1976 Genevieve Bernedette Parsons Colombo 1977 Sobodhini Nagesan Colombo 1978 Dilrukshi Wimalasoonya Colombo 1979 Vidyahari Vanigasooriyar Colombo 1980 Bernadine Rosi Ramanayake Colombo 1981 Renuka Varuni Jesudhason Matale 1982 Ann Monica Tradigo Colombo 1983 Shyama Ayesa Cecilia Fernando Colombo 1984 Nilmini Iddamalgoda Colombo 1985 Ramani Liz Bartholomeusz Colombo 1986 Indra Kumari Colombo 1987 Nandaine Wijiegooneratna Colombo 1988 Deepthi Alles Colombo 1989 Veronica Ruston Colombo 1990 Roshani Aluwihare Colombo 1991 Diloka Seneviratne Colombo 1992 Hiranthi Devapriya Colombo 1993 Chamila Wickramesinghe Colombo 1994 Nushara Fernando Colombo 1995 Shivani Vasagam Colombo 1996 Shivanthini Dharmasiri Colombo 2005 Rozanne Diasz Gampaha 2006 Jacqueline Fernandez Colombo 2007 Aruni Madusha Rajapakse Kandy 2008 Faith Landers Badulla 2010 Ishanka Madurasinghe Kegalle 2011 Stephanie Siriwardhana Colombo 2012 Sabrina Herft Colombo 2013 Amanda Ratnayake Colombo 2014 Avanti Marianne Colombo 2016 Jayathi De Silva Colombo 2017 Christina Peiris Colombo 2018 Ornella Gunesekere Colombo 2024 Melloney Dassanayake Colombo 2025 Lihasha White Colombo 2026 Nimhara Sasindi Colombo
Titleholders under Miss Sri Lanka org. Miss Universe Sri Lanka
Year Miss Sri Lanka Placement at Miss Universe Special Award(s) NotesNirmal Bandara directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 2024 2026 Nimhara Sasindi TBA 2025 Lihasha White Unplaced 2024 Melloney Dassanayake Unplaced Rosita Wickramasinghe directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2005 and 2018 colspan=5 2018 Ornella Mariam Jayshree Gunesekere Unplaced Miss Congeniality Ornella was 3rd Runner-up at Miss Supranational 2016, Top 10 and Miss Popular Vote at Miss Grand International 2015 and Top 15 and Miss Friendship at Miss Tourism International 2011. 2017 Christina Peiris Top 16 Crowned in special event after the annual Miss Sri Lanka did not recruit candidates to make a batch. 2016 Jayathi De Silva Unplaced colspan=5 2014 Avanti Marianne Unplaced 2013 Amanda Ratnayake Unplaced 2012 Sabrina Herft Unplaced Best National Costume (3rd Runner-up) 2011 Stephanie Siriwardhana Unplaced Sri Lanka-Lebanese descent 2010 Ishanka Madurasinghe Unplaced 2009 Faith Landers colspan=2 2008 Aruni Madusha Rajapakse Unplaced Aruni won in 2007 and allocated to Miss International 2007 before coming to Miss Universe 2008. colspan=5 2006 Jacqueline Fernandez Unplaced Best National Costume (Top 20) 2005 Rozanne Diasz Unplaced Sound and Vision with Bandula Jayasekera Productions — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1958 and 1996 colspan=5 1996 Shivanthini Dharmasiri Unplaced 1995 Shivani Vasagam Unplaced 1994 Nushara Fernando Unplaced 1993 Chamila Wickramesinghe Unplaced 1992 Hiranthi Devapriya Unplaced 1991 Diloka Seneviratne Unplaced 1990 Roshani Aluwihare Unplaced 1989 Veronica Ruston Unplaced 1988 Deepthi Alles Unplaced 1987 Nandaine Wijiegooneratna Unplaced 1986 Indra Kumari Unplaced 1985 Ramani Liz Bartholomeusz Unplaced colspan=5 1983 Shyama Ayesa Cecilia Fernando Unplaced 1982 Ann Monica Tradigo Unplaced 1981 Renuka Varuni Jesudhason Unplaced 1980 Hyacinth Kurukulasuriya Unplaced 1979 Vidyahari Vanigasooriyar Unplaced 1978 Dilrukshi Wimalasoonya Unplaced 1977 Sobodhini Nagesan Unplaced 1976 Genevieve Bernedette Parsons Unplaced 1975 Shyama Hiramya Algama Unplaced 1974 Melani Irene Wijendra Unplaced 1973 Shiranthi Wickremesinghe Unplaced colspan=5 1971 Gail Abayasinghe Unplaced 1970 Yolanda Shahzadi Ahlip Unplaced 1969 Marlene Beverly Seneveratne Unplaced 1968 Sheila Jayatilleke Unplaced colspan=5 1966 Lorraine Roosmalecocq Unplaced 1965 Shirlene Minerva de Silva Unplaced 1964 Dona Annette Felicia Kulatunga Unplaced 1963 Manel de Silva Unplaced 1962 Yvonne D'Rozario Unplaced 1961 Ranjini Nilani Jayatilleke Unplaced British Ceylon-Government directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1955 and 1957 colspan=5 1957 Camellia Rosalia Perera Unplaced colspan=5 1955 Maureen Neliya Hingert 2nd Runner-up
Miss International Sri Lanka
Year Miss Sri Lanka International Placement at Miss International Special Award(s) Notes 2025 Sheneli Romaya Top 10 2024 Maya Dmitri Unplaced 2023 Umanda Bamunuachchi Unplaced colspan=5 2019 Pawani Vithanage Top 15 2018 Natalee Fernando Unplaced In 2018 Miss Sri Lanka Intercontinental under Joyce James Gunawardene directorship took over the right of Miss International license too. The 2017 titleholder appointed to compete at Miss International 2018 in Japan. colspan=5 2016 Ayesha Fernando Unplaced 2015 Angela Richard Jayatissa Unplaced 2014 Tamara Shanelle Makalanda Unplaced colspan=5 2012 Madusha Rushani Mayadunne 2nd Runner-up colspan=5 2010 Ornella Mariam Jayasiri Gunesekere Unplaced colspan=5 2008 Faith Landers Unplaced 2007 Aruni Madusha Rajapakse Top 15 colspan=5 2005 Gayesha Perera Wickramarachchige Unplaced
Notes
See also Miss World Sri Lanka Miss Earth Sri Lanka Miss Sri Lanka Online
References
External links Official website Official website of Miss Universe