Sri Lankan Math Whizz-kids to compete at 63rd International Mathematical Olympiad in Norway

International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the oldest and the most prestigious of the science Olympiads. Contestants should be both under 20 and pre-university. IMO started in 1959 with Romania hosting seven countries from Eastern Europe. IMO grew in size through the decades and invites over 100 countries nowadays. Each country is allowed to send six contestants alongside a Leader and a Deputy Leader. Approximately half of the contestants are awarded medals, and they are distributed 1:2:3 among Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The contest consists of 2 days of 3 problems per day, while the contestants are given 270 minutes each day. Complete Solutions will receive 7 points per problem, while partial credit might be awarded for significant observations. The problems are classified into four main areas: Algebra, Geometry, Number Theory, and Combinatorics.

Sri Lanka Olympiad Mathematics Foundation (SLOMF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to popularizing mathematics at the school level. It holds Sri Lankan Mathematical Olympiad (SLMO) annually and select and send teams to represent Sri Lanka at international competitions such as International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), Asian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO) and International Mathematics Competition (IMC). For further information about SLOMF : (https://www.slmathsolympiad.org)

Road to IMO :=Sri Lankan Mathematics Competition (SLMC) is the first step of the process. It is a 90-minute test with 30 MCQs. Any school student in Sri Lanka from grade 3 to grade 13 can participate . It’s currently partitioned into 4 age groups. This competition will select approximately 50 students for the SLMCC. Furthermore SLMC selects winners from all age groups and will give medals and distinction awards. SLMC currently has 3000-6000 participants each year. SLOMF wants to expand SLMC further in size.

=Sri Lankan Mathematics Challange Competition (SLMCC). The Invited students will face a 5-problem competition. Top scorers are given Medals and these medals are considered as the pinnacle of National achievements at SLMO. The top 12 are invited to the IMO-TST.

=The Team Selection Test for the International Mathematcial Olympiad (IMO-TST) will choose the IMO Team of Sri Lanka. Its a multi-day Test (2,3 or 4 depending on the year) with 3 problems with 270 minutes each day.

Sri Lanka participated in the IMO for the 1st time in 1995. Sri Lanka has sent 85 participants to the IMO, where 15 have won bronzes. Sri Lanka’s Tally is currently 23 Bronze medals and 53 Honourable mentions. Sri Lanka is yet to win Gold or Silver at the IMO. Sri Lanka will participate at the 63rd IMO in Oslo from 9th to 16th July 2022. Let’s wish good luck to the IMO Team.