By Roy Denish.
Nishan Canagarajah knighted by King Charles at Windsor Castle for his major contribution to higher education in Britain.
Nishan Canagarajah knighted by King Charles III has become a proud moment for Sri Lanka’s Tamil community and the wider higher education sector.
Professor Nishan Canagarajah, who was born in Jaffna, currently serves as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. He received the prestigious British Knighthood for his outstanding and distinguished service to higher education.
King Charles III formally conferred the honour on him during an investiture ceremony held on July 7, 2026, at Windsor Castle.
Jaffna-Born Academic Receives Royal Honour
With the Knighthood, Professor Canagarajah can now use the title “Sir” before his name. His name appeared in the King’s New Year Honours List for 2026 in recognition of his immense contribution to higher education, especially his work to promote and expand academic opportunities.
During the ceremony, Professor Canagarajah followed traditional royal customs. He knelt before King Charles, who officially bestowed the honour by tapping his shoulders with a sword.
Professor Nishan Canagarajah was born in Jaffna in 1966. He is a father of three. His father served as a teacher at St. John’s College, Jaffna, while his mother taught at Chundikuli Girls’ College.
Nishan Canagarajah Knighted After Distinguished Career
As an alumnus of St. John’s College, he sat for his Advanced Level examinations in the Mathematics stream in 1985. He secured distinctions in all four subjects, opening the way for him to enter the University of Cambridge.
He completed his Bachelor’s degree at Cambridge in 1989. He later earned his PhD from the same university in 1993.
Professor Nishan Canagarajah was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester on November 4, 2021. He became the first person from an ethnic minority community to hold the post in the university’s history.
His royal honour now marks another milestone in a journey that began in Jaffna and reached one of Britain’s most respected academic leadership roles.
