Professor A.G Unil Perera, a Life Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), Society of Photo-Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) is a Regent’s Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University (GSU). In 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sri Lanka Foundation International for his research focus on developing novel multi-band, bias, and polarization selection photon detectors covering a wide range from Ultraviolet to Far Infrared (Terahertz). In 2014 Professor Unil was appointed Regents Professor of Physics and reappointed after 3 years and made a Permanent Regents Professor of Physics. In 2021, he was awarded the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Photonics Society Distinguished Lecturer Award renewed for the second year until 2022.More than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles out of 200+ and 10 (out of 14) US and other International Patents
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In 2016, the Sri Lanka Foundation awarded Professor Janaka Ruwanpura a Lifetime Achievement Award for his academic achievements. Professor Ruwanpura successfully completed two five-year terms as Vice-Provost International and three years of an added Associate Vice-President Research (International) position at the University of Calgary (UCalgary). He has been the longest-serving and most impactful senior International Officers of UCalgary for 11 years and 2 months. He is now on a two-year administrative leave as of April 2024 as an earned benefit of serving as a senior leadership team member at the University of Calgary, Canada. Professor Ruwanpura stated that since being appointed Vice-Provost International (VPI) in 2013, UCalgary has been on a transformative growth trajectory in global engagement. His leadership brought new and innovative programs and projects in academic, student mobility, and research dimensions. External recognition for UCalgary’s internationalization efforts under his leadership includes six excellence and innovation awards since 2016,
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In a city known for its award shows, the Sri Lanka Foundation organized an event to rival Hollywood’s best. The International Awards 2024 was held on Sunday April 21st at the Sheraton Universal Hotel Grand Ballroom; it was an all day affair celebrating a unique array of achievements that only the Sri Lankan diaspora could produce. Fifteen awardees were recognized for their outstanding contributions in fields ranging from medicine to science, engineering, philanthropy, and even table tennis! Rounding out the event were cultural performances, a silent auction, a fashion show, live music, and dancing. The International Awards 2024 began with a glamorous red carpet entrance. Traditional dress was the order of the day, and colorful sarees dazzled the eye in all directions. After special guests mingled and perused the silent auction, the ceremony began. The man behind it all, Founder Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, took the stage. He greeted the crowd
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Meet Outstanding Achievement Junior Award winner Tiana Kameel Piyadasa We are awarding Tiana Kameel Piyadasa because of her outstanding achievements in table tennis at such a young age. She is a tremendous athlete and a force to be reckoned with. Tiana Kameel Piyadasa was born in Pasadena, California, to Sri Lankan parents, Thilina Piyadasa and Rifkha Kameel. She is currently attending elementary school in Southern California. For the Kameel Piyadasa’s table tennis is a family tradition. Tiana’s father, Thilina, was a Sri Lankan national table tennis champion for 8 years and is a national-level coach for Team USA. Tiana’s mother, Rifkha, was also a national table tennis player in Sri Lanka. Tiana’s older sister, Tashiya, is a national table tennis champion. Tiana is already a fierce competitor at just ten years old! In 2021, when she was just eight years old, Tiana was the youngest table tennis player to represent
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Meet Outstanding Achievement Junior Award winner Tashiya Kameel Piyadasa We are awarding Tashiya Kameel Piyadasa because she is such a fierce competitor in table tennis. Her achievements at the national level are outstanding! Tashiya Kameel Piyadasa was born in Pasadena, California to Sri Lankan parents, Thilina Piyadasa and Rifkha Kameel. She is currently attending middle school in Southern California. Table Tennis clearly runs in her blood! Tashiya’s father, Thilina, was a Sri Lankan national table tennis champion for 8 years and is a national-level coach for Team USA. Tashiya’s mother, Rifkha, was also a national table tennis player in Sri Lanka. Tashiya’s younger sister, Tiana, is also a table tennis champion. Tashiya is the only Sri Lankan American to become a national champion in Table Tennis in the USA and represent the USA national Table Tennis team. In 2022, she won a gold medal at the 2022 US Open Table
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Meet Rising Star Award winner Sayuri P. Jinadasa, MD, MPH We are awarding Sayuri P. Jinadasa, MD, MPH, because of her contributions to the field of acute critical care and her impressive educational achievements. Her lengthy list of accomplishments at such an early stage in her career and her dedication to training the next generation of physicians is genuinely worthy of a Rising Star! Sayuri P. Jinadasa, MD, MPH, was born in Rahway, New Jersey, where her parents lived after they came to the United States from Sri Lanka. At the young age of five, she had already decided to become a physician. Her impressive educational accomplishments include three Ivy League degrees. She began with an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Princeton University in New Jersey, she then got her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, and lastly, she earned her Master’s of
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Meet Srimerican of the Year Award Winner Aruni Boteju We are awarding Aruni Boteju because of her work in creating the Ceylon International Film Festival, a film festival that shares Sri Lankan culture with the world. Her success in charitable causes has made an organizational and monetary impact in helping the U.S. and Sri Lanka. Aruni Boteju was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and she is the oldest of three daughters of Manel and Ariyadasa Horanage. She attended Buddhist Ladies Collage, Colombo 7, which laid the foundation for her academic pursuits. In her teenage years, her family relocated to Santa Barbara, California. She continued her studies at Santa Barbara City College and subsequently achieved a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. Aruni is the Founder and CEO of the Ceylon International Film Festival (CEYIFF). The CEYIFF is a non-profit arts and educational organization founded in 2021.
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Meet Rising Star Award winner Tanya Egodage, MD, FACS We are awarding Tanya Egodage, MD, FACS, because of her essential medical work and determination to share her knowledge and gifts with students in the U.S. and Sri Lanka. In the fast-paced world of critical care, Dr. Egodage is a rising star! Tanya Egodage, MD, FACS, grew up in Seal Beach, California. After graduating from the University of California Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, she attended medical school at the American University of the Caribbean, Coral Gables, FL. In a highly competitive profession, Dr. Egodage is making a name for herself. Dr. Egodage is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Previously, she was an attending surgeon in Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care at Cooper University Hospital in Chicago, IL. Trauma surgeons specialize in emergency surgeries on people who’ve
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Meet Outstanding Performance by a Young Professional Award winner Enoka Imali Fernando We are awarding Enoka because of her impressive work in aeronautical engineering, as her mastery and leadership are inspiring. Enoka Imali Fernando’s journey began at Musaeus College and Stafford International in Sri Lanka, where she won numerous awards for swimming and academic subjects. She went on to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Games for swimming. After winning multiple scholarships for her final two years of college in the USA, Enoka graduated Summa Cum Laude from North Carolina State University with a double degree in Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering. Enoka has more than 20 years of experience as an aeronautical engineer. Beginning in 2000 as a Junior Loads Engineer for Butler Technical Group in Encino, CA, she has advanced in the industry to be the External Loads Engineer for Boeing Commercial Airplanes and the Lead Engineer for Boeing
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Meet Outstanding Performance by a Young Professional Award winner Binara Dharmawardana We are awarding Binara Dharmawardana because of his charitable contributions to patients suffering from terminal illnesses. He founded and spearheads the Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation, which provides a vital ambulance service for patients in Sri Lanka. Binara Dharmawardana was born in Sri Lanka, the only child of the renowned actor and public personality Cyril Dharmawardana and his mother, Swarnakanthi Rajapakse, an award-winning writer. He studied at St. Sebastian’s College in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and completed his education in Melbourne, Australia. He holds an IT degree from Swinburne University and has worked at several multinational corporations, including General Electric and IBM. When Binara’s father, Cyril, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, he was grateful to receive the best care in Australia. Having witnessed the disparity of medical facilities in Australia compared to Sri Lanka, Cyril imagined a service that gave
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