For the first time in EXPO exhibition history, countries were given the opportunity of designing their national pavilion through a design competition organized by EXPO Dubai 2020 (which was planned for 2020- 2021, however, due to the pandemic situation, was held in 2021-2022). The competition was organized through the Creative Youth Program of the exhibition, which aimed at empowering, engaging, and involving youth in national innovation endeavours.

Mr. Prabathiya Herath, a student from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DoME), representing the University of Moratuwa (UoM) became the Sri Lankan Champion of Speak Out for Engineering (SOfE) competition 2021, organized by IMechE Sri Lanka Group. Mr. Ranuka Perera from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) became the runner-up in the competition.