Skip to content

🇱🇰 Chemistry Olympiad Sri Lanka (COSL)

Overview

The Chemistry Olympiad Sri Lanka (COSL) is Sri Lanka's national chemistry competition for pre-university students, organized by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC) through its COSL committee. IChemC became the official national organizer in 2016, and the national olympiad has been held annually since 2017. The programme identifies and trains the top chemistry students to represent Sri Lanka at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).

Key Website

Competition Format

The selection proceeds through several stages:

Stage 1 — Preliminary Screening Exam

  • A 2.5-hour written test administered at approximately 9 centres nationwide
  • Offered in Sinhala, Tamil, and English
  • ~500 students participate (based on recent figures)

Stage 2 — Final Round

  • The top 30–35 candidates (selected by exam score or A/L results) sit a second, IChO-calibre examination

Stage 3 — Training Workshops

  • Finalists attend theory and practical workshops at the IChemC facility in Rajagiriya

Stage 4 — Team Selection

  • 4 students are chosen to represent Sri Lanka at the IChO

Eligibility

GCE A/L students with three A passes (including Chemistry), under 20 years of age on July 1 of the competition year, and not yet enrolled at any university. Cambridge/Edexcel A* grades are also accepted.

IChO Performance

Sri Lanka attended the IChO as an observer in 2018 and 2019 before making its competitive debut at the 52nd IChO in 2020 (held remotely). Since then, Sri Lanka has competed every year. The lifetime record is 1 silver, 24 bronze, and 3 honourable mentions.

Notable results:

  • 2020: 3 bronze + 1 HM (competitive debut year)
  • 2022: Nelushi Vithanachchi earned Sri Lanka's first and only silver medal (rank 88)
  • 2023: All 4 delegates won bronze medals (Zurich, Switzerland)

Student Outcomes

No explicit university admission benefits (such as guaranteed university placement or bonus points) have been formally documented. The olympiad is framed primarily as a prestige and enrichment opportunity. Medalists are publicly recognized by IChemC at formal ceremonies.

History

  • 2016 — IChemC became the official national organizer for the chemistry olympiad
  • 2017 — First annual national olympiad held
  • 2018–2019 — Sri Lanka attended the IChO as an observer nation
  • 2020 — Competitive debut at the 52nd IChO (remote, originally Turkey): 3 bronze + 1 HM
  • 2022 — First silver medal (Nelushi Vithanachchi)
  • 2023 — All 4 delegates won bronze at the 55th IChO in Zurich

Sources