Elevating Sri Lankan Tech and Cinema: DRONEMAN Team Secures Championship at SLIIT ROBOFEST 2026

by Vasantha Wakkumbura

The DRONEMAN Team has officially claimed the Championship Award in the Drone Open Category at SLIIT ROBOFEST 2026.

Operating as Country Manager alongside Founder Aravind Kumar Murugan and Drone Technical Specialist Srimman Maheswaran, securing this victory at Sri Lanka’s premier robotics and technology competition marks a pivotal milestone for our operations. ROBOFEST has long been recognized as a rigorous testing ground for engineering, automation, and aerial robotics. Taking the top prize in the open category validates the precision, aerodynamic innovation, and advanced flight capabilities our team brings to the table, proving that our technical frameworks are operating at the highest competitive level.

Building the Future: Launching DRONEMAN Academy Winning a championship is a testament to current capabilities, but true industry disruption requires building a sustainable, long-term ecosystem. Our immediate next step is the launch of the DRONEMAN Academy in Sri Lanka. The academy is designed to bridge the critical skills gap in advanced aerial technology, moving beyond basic consumer flight to offer specialized, rigorous training in commercial drone piloting, technical maintenance, and aerial engineering. By equipping a new generation of Sri Lankan tech enthusiasts, creators, and professionals with these highly sought-after skills, DRONEMAN Academy will serve as a premier incubator for future innovators in the regional aerospace and tech sectors.

Aerial Storytelling: DRONEMAN and eFilms.lk Beyond industrial and technical applications, the true transformative power of drone technology lies in visual storytelling. In a major upcoming venture, DRONEMAN is partnering with eFilms.lk to pioneer the production of dedicated Drone-Films in Sri Lanka. Aerial cinematography offers an unparalleled tool for establishing atmospheric tension, geographic isolation, and expansive world-building.

For the gritty, neo-noir, and psychological crime narratives currently being developed through eFilms.lk—including the expansive cinematic universe of The Kadawatha Mafia Cinema project—this technology allows us to capture the Sri Lankan landscape with a ruthless, sweeping precision. By merging cutting-edge drone mechanics with raw, independent filmmaking, this collaboration will fundamentally elevate the visual language and production value of local cinema.

The victory at SLIIT ROBOFEST 2026 is merely the launchpad. With the upcoming rollout of the DRONEMAN Academy and our high-end cinematic collaborations, we are laying the groundwork for a comprehensive drone ecosystem in Sri Lanka—one that leads in both technical engineering and the creative arts.