Neerja Birla and Anila Dhami
Media Partners (Sri Lanka): The Sun (Daily Mirror), Wijeya Newspapers Limited
Just three months after a prestigious ceremony that brought together individuals with a combined net worth exceeding £40 billion at the London Hilton on Park Lane, nominations have officially opened for the 2026 edition of the Asian Achievers Awards. The forthcoming ceremony is expected to attract an influential audience from across South Asia, the Middle East and the UK. Now in its 23rd year, the Asian Achievers Awards is the longest running awards platform of its kind in the UK dedicated to celebrating excellence within the South Asian community. Over the decades, the Awards have charted the rise and impact of these communities across business, culture, public service and the arts. Many figures from The Sunday Times Rich List have attended, supported or been recognised by the Awards. Until his recent ill health and passing, Gopichand Hinduja, patriarch of Britain’s richest family, was a regular presence at the event.
The Awards have also consistently enjoyed cross party-political recognition. Every British Prime Minister in recent memory has either attended or sent messages of support, with leaders of all three major political parties, including the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, acknowledging the work of the organisation this year. Winners at the 2025 ceremony reflected the breadth of South Asian achievement in the UK and globally. They included Neerja Birla, billionaire founder and chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, and Sunny Gill Singh, the first British South Asian referee in the Premier League. Jimal, Nishal and Devik Solanki were recognised for building the Taj Foods brand, while Syed Muhammad Faisal Sami received an award for humanitarian work.
Entrepreneur Simon Arora was honoured following the successful exit of high street giant B and M Stores. Emb Hashmi was recognised for her contribution to media, and Maulik Darji for his leadership in head and cancer treatments within the NHS. Music producer Rishi Rich received a special award for his pioneering role in Asian and R and B fusion, while veteran broadcaster Ravi Sharma marked 50 years in radio with his win.
Past recipients have included Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia, founder of Europe’s largest car parts business, Leicester City footballer Hamza Choudhary, boxer Hamza Sheeraz, former world champion Amir Khan, Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, BBC journalist Naga Munchetty and Namit Malhotra, chief executive of multi-Oscar winning visual effects studio DNEG.
Looking ahead to 2026, organisers say a key focus will be on recognising entrepreneurs and leaders of Sri Lankan origin. Britain has seen a growing wave of Sri Lankan talent making significant contributions across business, theatre, art and education. While a newer community compared with British Indians, who have had a strong UK presence since the 1970s, Sri Lankan Britons are increasingly prominent on the national and international stage.
This was reflected in the 2025 Awards, where Indhu Rubasingham MBE, artistic director of the National Theatre, won in the Art and Culture category, alongside Professor Selva Pankaj, co-founder and chief executive of Regent Global, an education group operating across five countries. Choreographer Nileeka Gunawardene Bose, whose work includes Marvel’s The Eternals, also played a prominent role as one of the event hosts.
Interest from the Sri Lankan British community has grown steadily in recent years, mirroring its increasing establishment and visibility in the UK. Well known figures such as comedian and broadcaster Romesh Ranganathan and actor Tony Jayawardena exemplify this rising profile. Organisers say they are keen to further elevate Sri Lankan talent by providing a global platform through the Awards.
The timing also coincides with strengthening UK Sri Lanka economic ties. Sri Lanka is home to operations of major UK companies including HSBC, De La Rue Currency, Standard Chartered Bank and London Stock Exchange Group, and remains a critical part of the supply chain for high street brands such as Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Next. The garment sector continues to underpin bilateral trade, supported by recent UK government reforms to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme aimed at simplifying imports and boosting Sri Lankan exports.
Organisers emphasise that maintaining relevance and credibility is central to the Awards’ mission. By continually reaching out to emerging entrepreneurs and change makers across professions, the Asian Achievers Awards aims to remain at the forefront of recognising the next generation of leaders, a reputation that has earned it the description of the Oscars for South Asians in the UK.
For partners, the Awards offer access to a unique gathering of business leaders, celebrities and politicians in a single room each year.
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Asian Achievers Awards. Further details on submitting nominations or partnership opportunities are available via the official website. Organisers say they look forward to showcasing the best of Sri Lankan and South Asian talent in the UK and beyond on an international stage.
