Miss Universe Sri Lanka

Last updated

Miss Sri Lanka Organization
Formation1953
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Colombo
Location
Membership
Official language
Sinhala
English

Miss Universe Sri Lanka (formerly known as Miss Ceylon) is a national pageant in Sri Lanka to choose ambassador for the Miss Universe pageant.

Contents

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 to 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
1953Manel Illangakoon Colombo Miss Ceylon Beauty Pageant – British Ceylon-Government
1954Jeannette de Jonk Colombo
1955 Maureen Neliya Hingert Colombo
1957Camellia Rosalia Perera Colombo
1960Yvonne Eileen Gunawardene Colombo Miss Sri Lanka – Sound and Vision with Bandula Jayasekera Productions
1961Kamala Athauda Kalutara
1962Yvonne D'Rozario Colombo
1963Manel de Silva Colombo
1964Dona Annette Felicia Kulatunga Colombo
1965Shirlene Minerva de Silva Colombo
1966Lorraine Roosmalecocq Colombo
1967Seedevi de Zoysas Tewaitta Ragama Colombo
1968Sheila Jayatilleke Colombo
1969Marlene Beverly Seneveratne Colombo
1970Yolanda Shahzadi Ahlip Colombo
1971Gail Abayasinghe Colombo
1972Damayanthi Gunewardena Colombo
1973 Shiranthi Wickremesinghe Badulla The wife of the sixth President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa
1974Melani Irene Wijendra Colombo
1975Shyama Hiramya Algama Colombo
1976Genevieve Bernedette Parsons Colombo
1977Sobodhini Nagesan Colombo
1978Dilrukshi Wimalasoonya Colombo
1979Vidyahari Vanigasooriyar Colombo
1980Bernadine Rosi Ramanayake Colombo
1981Renuka Varuni Jesudhason Matale
1982Ann Monica Tradigo Colombo
1983Shyama Ayesa Cecilia Fernando Colombo
1984Nilmini Iddamalgoda Colombo
1985 Ramani Liz Bartholomeusz Colombo
1986Indra Kumari Colombo
1987Nandaine Wijiegooneratna Colombo
1988Deepthi Alles Colombo
1989Veronica Ruston Colombo
1990Roshani Aluwihare Colombo
1991Diloka Seneviratne Colombo
1992Hiranthi Devapriya Colombo
1993Chamila Wickramesinghe Colombo
1994Nushara Fernando Colombo
1995 Shivani Vasagam Colombo
1996Shivanthini Dharmasiri Colombo
2005Rozanne Diasz Gampaha Miss Universe Sri Lanka – Rosita Wickramasinghe (Essential Entertainment) directorship
2006 Jacqueline Fernandez Colombo Bollywood Actress
2007 Aruni Madusha Rajapakse Kandy
2008Faith Landers Badulla
2010Ishanka Madurasinghe Kegalle
2011 Stephanie Siriwardhana Colombo Sri Lanka-Lebanese descent
2012Sabrina Herft Colombo
2013Amanda Ratnayake Colombo
2014Avanti Marianne Colombo
2016Jayathi De Silva Colombo
2017Christina Peiris Colombo
2018Ornella Gunesekere Colombo
2024Melloney Dassanayake Colombo
2025Lihasha White Colombo

Titleholders under Miss Sri Lanka org.

Miss Universe Sri Lanka

  •   : Declared as Winner
  •   : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
  •   : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
  •   : Ended as special awards winner
YearMiss Sri LankaPlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial AwardsNotes
Nirmal Bandara directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 2024
2025 Lihasha White [1] Unplaced
2024 Melloney Dassanayake [2] Unplaced
Rosita Wickramasinghe directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2005 and 2018
Did not compete between 2019 and 2023
2018Ornella Mariam Jayshree GunesekereUnplaced
  • 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.
2017Christina PeirisTop 16Crowned in special event after the annual Miss Sri Lanka did not recruit candidates to make a batch.
2016Jayathi De SilvaUnplaced
Did not compete in 2015
2014Avanti MarianneUnplaced
2013Amanda RatnayakeUnplaced
2012Sabrina HerftUnplaced
  • Best National Costume (3rd Runner-up)
2011 Stephanie Siriwardhana UnplacedSri Lanka-Lebanese descent
2010Ishanka MadurasingheUnplaced
2009Faith LandersDid not compete
2008 Aruni Madusha Rajapakse UnplacedAruni won in 2007 and allocated to Miss International 2007 before coming to Miss Universe 2008.
Did not compete in 2007
2006 Jacqueline Fernandez Unplaced
  • Best National Costume (Top 20)
2005Rozanne DiaszUnplaced
Sound and Vision with Bandula Jayasekera Productions — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1958 and 1996
Did not compete between 1997 and 2004
1996Shivanthini DharmasiriUnplaced
1995Shivani VasagamUnplaced
1994Nushara FernandoUnplaced
1993Chamila WickramesingheUnplaced
1992Hiranthi DevapriyaUnplaced
1991Diloka SeneviratneUnplaced
1990Roshani AluwihareUnplaced
1989Veronica RustonUnplaced
1988Deepthi AllesUnplaced
1987Nandaine WijiegooneratnaUnplaced
1986Indra KumariUnplaced
1985 Ramani Liz Bartholomeusz Unplaced
Did not compete in 1984
1983Shyama Ayesa Cecilia FernandoUnplaced
1982Ann Monica TradigoUnplaced
1981Renuka Varuni JesudhasonUnplaced
1980Hyacinth KurukulasuriyaUnplaced
1979Vidyahari VanigasooriyarUnplaced
1978Dilrukshi WimalasoonyaUnplaced
1977Sobodhini NagesanUnplaced
1976Genevieve Bernedette ParsonsUnplaced
1975Shyama Hiramya AlgamaUnplaced
1974Melani Irene WijendraUnplaced
1973Shiranthi WickremesingheUnplaced
Did not compete in 1972
1971Gail AbayasingheUnplaced
1970Yolanda Shahzadi AhlipUnplaced
1969Marlene Beverly SeneveratneUnplaced
1968Sheila JayatillekeUnplaced
Did not compete in 1967
1966Lorraine RoosmalecocqUnplaced
1965Shirlene Minerva de SilvaUnplaced
1964Dona Annette Felicia KulatungaUnplaced
1963Manel de SilvaUnplaced
1962Yvonne D'RozarioUnplaced
1961Ranjini Nilani JayatillekeUnplaced
British Ceylon-Government directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1955 and 1957
Did not compete between 1958 and 1960
1957Camellia Rosalia PereraUnplaced
Did not compete in 1956
1955 Maureen Neliya Hingert 2nd Runner-up

Miss International Sri Lanka

  •   : Declared as Winner
  •   : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
  •   : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
  •   : Ended as special awards winner
YearMiss International Sri LankaPlacement at Miss InternationalSpecial AwardsNotes
2025Sheneli RomayaTBA
Did not compete between 2019 and 2024
2018Natalee FernandoUnplaced
Did not compete in 2017
2016Ayesha FernandoUnplaced
2015Angela Richard JayatissaUnplaced
2014Tamara Shanelle MakalandaUnplaced
Did not compete in 2013
2012Madusha Rushani Mayadunne2nd Runner-up
Did not compete in 2011
2010Ornella Mariam Jayasiri GunesekereUnplaced
Did not compete in 2009
2008Faith LandersUnplaced
2007 Aruni Madusha Rajapakse Top 15
Did not compete in 2006
2005Gayesha Perera WickramarachchigeUnplaced

Notes

See also

References

  1. "Lihasha Lindsay White Crowned Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2025". Sunday Observer Sri Lanka . 29 July 2025. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  2. Khan, Rene (14 September 2022). "Melloney Dassanayake Crowned Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024". D Fashion Magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2024.