Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ Immigrants from Sri Lanka and India continue to make a visible contribution to Canadian society through public service, business, healthcare, culture and community development. Their growing presence is reflected in the 2026 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, which recognize newcomers who have made a meaningful difference in the country. Accordingly, twenty-five immigrants were recognized in the 18th annual Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards for their professional achievements, community work and cultural contributions.
The 2026 list includes two Sri Lankan-born Canadians and six people originally from India. The annual awards, presented by Canadian Immigrant with support from Western Union, highlight how newcomers are helping strengthen Canadian communities and institutions. The winners were selected through nominations, judging, shortlisting and public voting. More than 50,000 votes were cast after 75 finalists were chosen from hundreds of nominations.
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Sri Lankan diaspora
Prabath Pullay of Vancouver and Roy Ratnavel of Toronto are this year’s Sri Lankan-born honorees.
Prabath Pullay
Pullay, who moved to Canada from Sri Lanka in 1996, is executive director of Belkin Communities of Hope, a Salvation Army organization in Vancouver. He has played a role in establishing Canada‘s first safe house for victims of human trafficking and helped oversee the Alternate to Detention Program for refugees. His work focuses on safety, personal development and rebuilding lives, particularly among newcomers.
Roy Ratnavel
Ratnavel, a Sri Lankan Tamil who arrived in Canada at 18, is a former vice-chairman of CI Global Asset Management and former executive vice-president of CI Financial. His recognition adds to earlier honors, including the 2025 Tamil American Pioneer Award and the 2020 Best Executive Award.
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Indian diaspora
Six Indian-born Canadians also made the 2026 list, representing healthcare, entrepreneurship, arts, industry and entertainment.
- Sneha Jain of Burnaby was recognized for her leadership in healthcare transformation at Fraser Health.
- Jatinder Pal Singh, founder of Chandan Fashion in Toronto, was honored for his business achievements and community involvement.
- Poshak Sachdeva of Abbotsford, executive director of the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia, also received youth recognition.
- Actress and writer Supinder Wraich of Surrey was recognized for her contribution to Canadian film and television.
- Artist and educator Aparna Rangnekar of Milton was honored for her work in culture and community arts.
- Halifax entrepreneur Shivani Dhamija, founder of Shivani’s Kitchen, received the Entrepreneur Award.
Together, these recipients show how immigrant communities are contributing to Canada’s economy, public services and cultural life while helping build stronger communities.
