Guidelines
Introduction
The Project Management Institute (PMI) Colombo Sri Lanka Chapter is happy to announce, the National Project Management Excellence Awards (NPME) 2025 to recognize and honor the best practitioners of project management and their achievements in the project management field in Sri Lanka. This prestigious award program honors Sri Lankan project managers, teams, and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the country’s development and the project management profession, showcasing leadership and best practices.
Eligibility Criteria
The awards are open to any legally registered entity, such as a business organization, an NGO, a not-for-profit organization, a government agency, etc. A project that has been completed within the period of 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2025 and has been accepted as complete by the sponsor, client, or beneficiary before nomination will be eligible for nomination. The nominated project must not be a project that has been nominated under a previously hosted NPME Awards. The project must have significant and tangible outcomes or benefits to the country. It must have been completed using PMBOK Guide processes and approaches. The project must also meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The project must be managed by a Sri Lankan citizen.
- The project must have had an approved scope, schedule, and budget and implemented within reasonable tolerance in each constraint.
- The project must be located inside the territorial boundaries of Sri Lanka.
- At least 50% of the project team, including the project manager, must be located within the boundaries of Sri Lanka.
Award Categories
The NPME Awards are divided into Thirty two categories, each with a winner and a runner-up and merit certificates. The best project that could be identified as had been managed best out of all the projects submitted for the NPME 2025 Awards and has met all defined project output and outcomes. Each nominated project is evaluated and ranked only against other nominees under the same award category. The awards committee reserves the right not to select a recipient for a particular year for any category if the review performed indicates that nominations do not meet the stated criteria. The awards and award categories are as follows:
Award Category List
- Best Managed Project in Construction Sector
- Best Managed Project in Infrastructure Development Sector
- Best Managed Project in Technology and IT Sector
- Best Managed Project in Telecommunications Sector
- Best Managed Project in Banking and Financial Sector
- Best Managed Project in Transportation Warehousing Procurement and Logistics Sector
- Best Managed Project in Academic/Education and / or Research Sector
- Best Managed Project in Government Sector
- Best Managed Project in BPO/KPO Sector
- Best Managed Project in Manufacturing Sector
- Best Managed Project in Retail Sector
- Best Managed Project in Community Development / CSR Project Sector
- Best Managed Project in Social Enterprise Sector (Local and International)
- Best Managed Project in Agriculture and Livestock Development Sector
- Best Managed Project in Media and Advertising Sector
- Best Managed Project in Power and Energy Sector
- Best Managed Project in Digital Transformation
- Best Managed Project in Apparel Sector
- Best Managed Project in Robotics Process Automations
- Best Managed Project in Tourism & Hospitality Sector
- Best Managed Project in Marketing / Advertising
- Best Managed Project in Health care sector
- Best Managed Project in ICT Services Solutions
- Best Managed Project in ICT Infrastructure
- Best Managed Project in Fintec
- Best Managed Project in AI and Data Science
- Best Innovative Project of the year
- Best Green project of the year
- Best Startup project of the year
- Best Six Sigma project of the year
- Best Lean project of the year
- Best Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) project of the year
Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation of the nominated projects will be carried out by a panel of reviewers who are subject matter experts based on the following criteria, as evidenced by sufficient documentation from the relevant parties:
- The project met or exceeded the requirements of the owner, client, or major stakeholder compared to the initially specific project goals.
- The project met or improved on budget and schedule performance compared to the original established budget and schedule goals.
- The project demonstrated the originality and uniqueness of applied project management techniques, including the innovative application of practices/methods.
- The project exhibited technical aspects and advancement of the project management profession through the effective application of the PM disciplines.
- The project demonstrated the project’s complexity and uncertainties, issues, and barriers requiring particular management team action and performance.
- Sustainability and Social Impact: The extent to which the project demonstrated sustainable practices and had a positive social impact on the Sri Lankan community or environment.
Application Procedure
The nomination Application process consists of three steps:
Step 1:
The applicant will submit a duly completed initial application form on or before 20 July 2025 with Application Payment.( https://forms.gle/FP1Kpe4DFk7c3nSp6 )
Payment Guidelines :
The completed application form is to be submitted along with the payment of the application fee of Rs. 25,000/-
- Account Number: 0003 6000 1407
- Account Type: Current
- Account Name: PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE COLOMBO CHAPTER
- Bank: Sampath Bank, Nugegoda Branch
- SWIFT Code: BSAMLKLX
Step 2:
The applicant will submit a duly completed project detail with all the supporting documents by email to npme@pmicolombo.org on or before 20 August 2025.
PMI Colombo Sri Lanka Chapter will guide for clarifications and how to complete the necessary documentation.
Step 3:
The shortlisted nominees may be called upon for a 20-minute presentation for the judges to make a final decision before 10 September 2025.
Guidelines for Detail Submission pack (Step 2) – Herein after refer as Nomination Pack
The Nomination pack must for the Template detailed in this document and rules below:
- The nomination pack must be in English.
- The nomination pack must be at most ten (10) pages, excluding the cover letter and the application form.
- The nomination pack must contain a cover letter that identifies all materials and documentation contained in the nomination and that ensures that the documentation meets all requirements.
- The nomination pack must contain a completed form that provides all the details of the project and its achievements.
- The nomination pack must contain supporting documents or evidence of the project’s achievements, such as copies of any articles or media attention received as a result of the completion of the project or any other form of community verification or acknowledgment of the service.
- The nomination pack must be submitted by email to npme@pmicolombo.org on or before 20th August 2025.
- The nomination pack must be submitted by the lead nominator, who could be the project manager or any person designated by the project team.
- The lead nominator must ensure that there are no restrictions on the use of submitted information and that permission has been obtained for using copyrighted materials included in the application pack.
- The lead nominator must obtain the consent and approval of the project sponsor, stakeholders, team, and end users to submit the application and to share the details of the project.
- The lead nominator must agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the PMI and the organizers of the NPME Awards.
- The lead nominator must declare that the information provided in the application form is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and belief.
- The lead nominator must understand that any false, misleading information or any canvassing may result in the disqualification of the application or the withdrawal of any award granted.
- When submitting a proposal for an NPME award, the proper channels within the organization must be followed, ensuring the proposal is received via senior management.
- When submitting a proposal for an NPME award, it is required to provide a one-minute video demonstration showcasing the key aspects and achievements of the project.
The filled nomination pack along with all supporting documents is to be emailed to npme@pmicolombo.org with the subject “NPME 2025 – XXXXXX Category”.
Presentation of the Award and Recognition
The winners and runners-up of all NPME Awards will be presented at the PMI Sri Lanka Conference on 24th October 2025. After the award presentation, the awards will be publicized through PMI communication channels and external media. PMI Sri Lanka chapter will acknowledge the winners and runners-up of all award categories at specified PMI events and through their website and e-magazines.
The final awards nominees, i.e., winners and runners-up, will be notified that an award is due for them before the event.
Additional Information and Inquiries
Any queries about this award should be sent to npme@pmicolombo.org, clearly mentioning “Clarification on NPME Awards 2025” in the subject line.
You can reach us at 0777 924590 for any clarification.
The decision of the designated panel of reviewers will be final.
In case the panel of reviewers feels that none of the individual submissions meet the minimum standards as stipulated in the guideline, the award will stand canceled, and no Winner and/or Runner-ups will be announced.
Key Deadlines
- Last date for submission of initial information about the award nomination – 20 July 2025
- Last date for submission of Project Detail Submission – 20 August 2025
- Last date for presentations of Projects by shortlisted nominees – 10 September 2025
- Selection of the NPME Awards 2025 – 20 August 2025