Five renowned scientists from Sri Lanka have been listed among the top 100 scientists in Asia.
Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda, Prof. Chandana Jayaratne, Dr. Asha DeVos, Dr. Chathuranga Ranasinghe from the University of Colombo and Dr. Ashani Savinda Ranathunga from the University of Moratuwa have been named in the ASIAN SCIENTIST 100 Magazine’s 2023 edition.
Prof. Pethiyagoda won the 2022 Linnean Medal in zoology, and became the first Sri Lankan to receive the medal. He was recognized for his consistent research, writing and advocacy in biodiversity conservation in Sri Lanka.
Prof. Jayaratne was conferred the National Apex Award 2022 by the Sri Lankan President for his consistent professional excellence in the field of science and technology in the country.
Dr. DeVos is a marine biologist, educator and a leader in the field of blue whale research. She is the first Sri Lankan to receive a PhD in marine mammal research and the first National Geographic explorer from the country. For her contributions in the field and for mentoring young scientists in Sri Lanka, DeVos has received numerous awards including the Maxwell-Hanrahan Award in Field Biology, Vanithabhimana Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Global Teacher Prize. De Vos, who is also a TED Fellow, founded Oceanswell, Sri Lanka’s first marine conservation research and education organization.
Dr. Ranasinghe received the 7th Sheikh Fahad Hiroshima-Asia Sports Medicine and Science Award in 2022. This award is given once in four years to a medical expert from Asia for their contribution to sports medicine.
Dr. Ranathunga is the recipient of 2022 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for turning industrial and agricultural waste into value-added products and using them as raw materials for eco-friendly construction and development projects.
