Sri Lanka, Dec. 30 -- Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, has been knighted in the 2026 King's New Year Honours for his outstanding contributions to higher education and championing inclusion.

Since joining the University in 2019, Professor Canagarajah has led one of the most diverse universities in the UK, with 69% of students from minority ethnic backgrounds and 38% from disadvantaged areas. He established the first IntoUniversity centre in Leicester, secured philanthropic funding to support 1,000 disadvantaged young people, and promoted equality by appointing the University's first female Chancellor, Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock PhD.

Under his leadership, the University received...