Miss Universe Sri Lanka
Beauty contest
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Miss Universe Sri Lanka (formerly known as Miss Ceylon) is a national pageant in Sri Lanka to choose ambassador for the Miss Universe pageant.
 | |
| Formation | 1953 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Colombo |
| Location | |
| Members | |
Official language | Sinhala English |
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
| Year | Miss Sri Lanka | District | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Manel Illangakoon | Colombo | Miss Ceylon Beauty Pageant – British Ceylon-Government |
| 1954 | Jeannette de Jonk | Colombo | |
| 1955 | Maureen Neliya Hingert | Colombo | |
| 1957 | Camellia Rosalia Perera | Colombo | |
| 1960 | Yvonne Eileen Gunawardene | Colombo | Miss Sri Lanka – Sound and Vision with Bandula Jayasekera Productions |
| 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 | The wife of the sixth President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| 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 | Miss Universe Sri Lanka – Rosita Wickramasinghe (Essential Entertainment) directorship |
| 2006 | Jacqueline Fernandez | Colombo | Bollywood Actress |
| 2007 | Aruni Madusha Rajapakse | Kandy | |
| 2008 | Faith Landers | Badulla | |
| 2010 | Ishanka Madurasinghe | Kegalle | |
| 2011 | Stephanie Siriwardhana | Colombo | Sri Lanka-Lebanese descent |
| 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 |
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
| Year | Miss Sri Lanka | Placement at Miss Universe | Special Award(s) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||||
| 2018 | Ornella Mariam Jayshree Gunesekere | Unplaced |
|
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 | |||
| Did not compete in 2015 | |||||
| 2014 | Avanti Marianne | Unplaced | |||
| 2013 | Amanda Ratnayake | Unplaced | |||
| 2012 | Sabrina Herft | Unplaced |
|
||
| 2011 | Stephanie Siriwardhana | Unplaced | Sri Lanka-Lebanese descent | ||
| 2010 | Ishanka Madurasinghe | Unplaced | |||
| 2009 | Faith Landers | Did not compete | |||
| 2008 | Aruni Madusha Rajapakse | Unplaced | Aruni won in 2007 and allocated to Miss International 2007 before coming to Miss Universe 2008. | ||
| Did not compete in 2007 | |||||
| 2006 | Jacqueline Fernandez | Unplaced |
|
||
| 2005 | Rozanne Diasz | Unplaced | |||
| Sound and Vision with Bandula Jayasekera Productions — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1958 and 1996 | |||||
| Did not compete between 1997 and 2004 | |||||
| 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 | |||
| Did not compete in 1984 | |||||
| 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 | |||
| Did not compete in 1972 | |||||
| 1971 | Gail Abayasinghe | Unplaced | |||
| 1970 | Yolanda Shahzadi Ahlip | Unplaced | |||
| 1969 | Marlene Beverly Seneveratne | Unplaced | |||
| 1968 | Sheila Jayatilleke | Unplaced | |||
| Did not compete in 1967 | |||||
| 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 | |||||
| Did not compete between 1958 and 1960 | |||||
| 1957 | Camellia Rosalia Perera | Unplaced | |||
| 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
| 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 | ||
| Did not compete between 2020 and 2022 | ||||
| 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. | |
| Did not compete in 2017 | ||||
| 2016 | Ayesha Fernando | Unplaced | ||
| 2015 | Angela Richard Jayatissa | Unplaced | ||
| 2014 | Tamara Shanelle Makalanda | Unplaced | ||
| Did not compete in 2013 | ||||
| 2012 | Madusha Rushani Mayadunne | 2nd Runner-up | ||
| Did not compete in 2011 | ||||
| 2010 | Ornella Mariam Jayasiri Gunesekere | Unplaced | ||
| Did not compete in 2009 | ||||
| 2008 | Faith Landers | Unplaced | ||
| 2007 | Aruni Madusha Rajapakse | Top 15 | ||
| Did not compete in 2006 | ||||
| 2005 | Gayesha Perera Wickramarachchige | Unplaced | ||
Notes
- Miss Sri Lanka 1973: Shiranthi Rajapaksa is the wife of the sixth President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa
- Miss Sri Lanka 1985: Bartholomeusz died on 30 June 1987 at the age of 20 when she allegedly jumped out of the car while Kamal Addararachchi was driving it after a dispute. Exact details are unknown.
- Miss Sri Lanka 2008: Faith Landers did not compete at the Miss Universe 2009 due to lack sponsorship. She only competed at Miss International 2008 in Macau.