Hithawathi Teens Hub Expansion Project by FOUNDATION.LK bags Gold at NPMEA 2026

FOUNDATION.LK, the social empowerment arm of LK Domain Registry, has achieved a significant milestone with its Hithawathi Teens Hub Expansion Project receiving the Gold Award at the National Project Management Excellence Awards (NPMEA) 2026, organized by the PMI Colombo, Sri Lanka Chapter.

The project was awarded under Category 13 – Best Managed Project in Community Development/NGO, recognizing excellence in project management and its contribution to creating safer digital environments for young people. The award is a significant achievement for FOUNDATION.LK and Hithawathi, reaffirming their commitment to promoting cyber safety and digital empowerment among Sri Lankan communities.

Hithawathi, a flagship project of FOUNDATION.LK, is focused on promoting cyber safety and responsible digital behaviour among Sri Lankans, with a particular focus on women and children. Through awareness, education and its free, trilingual support services, Hithawathi helps communities navigate the digital world more safely and confidently.

“This recognition is a proud moment for FOUNDATION.LK and the entire Hithawathi team. It also recognizes the collective efforts of our partners, education authorities, teachers and students who contributed to making the Teens Hub initiative a success,” stated Niroja Jayawickrama, CEO of FOUNDATION.LK.

The Hithawathi Teens Hub initiative was initially introduced as a pilot project to establish school-based spaces where students could learn about cyber safety, understand responsible digital behaviour and share their knowledge with their peers. Following the successful pilot, the initiative was expanded with the sponsorship of LK Domain Registry, following a request by Prof. Gihan Dias, Domain Registrar/CEO of LK Domain Registry, to extend the programme to more schools.

Through the Teens Hubs, teachers and students were encouraged to play an active role in promoting safer and more responsible use of digital technologies within their school communities. The project brought together the Ministry of Education, Zonal Education authorities, school principals, teachers, students and other stakeholders. The project followed a structured approach to planning, stakeholder coordination, risk management, monitoring and project closure, contributing to its successful implementation and long-term impact.

The Hithawathi Teens Hub Expansion Project, implemented from November 2023 to April 2025, established Teens Hubs in 29 additional schools across the Badulla, Passara and Galewela Educational Zones. The initial pilot was funded through the Resiliency Initiative, a partnership between Meta and The Asia Foundation. A key focus of the expansion was to move beyond one-time awareness programmes and establish a sustainable, school-based approach to cyber safety.

Hithawathi continues to make a notable impact in enhancing cyber safety in Sri Lanka as it marks 12 years since its inception. Over the years, Hithawathi has engaged 8,500,000+ netizens, supported 23,500+ individuals, conducted 1,250+ virtual & physical events, , published 2,000+ website articles and created 180+ video content pieces. Hithawathi is supported by numerous national and international level organizations including the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT), TechCERT, DP Education, Meta and TikTok.

Foundation.LK is a not-for-profit organization established by LK Domain Registry, Sri Lanka. Its mission is to equip Sri Lankans with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to navigate cyberspace securely and confidently, fostering responsible digital citizenship and maximising opportunities in emerging digital ecosystems. Established in 1990, the LK Domain Registry has served the country by providing a professional domain registration service, while also facilitating development of Internet infrastructure to improve the Internet in Sri Lanka.