Wayamba University awards Hon. D.Sc. to eminent IFS scientist Prof. M.A.K. Lakshman Dissanayake

Professor Dissanayake has more than 160 research publications to his credit, out of which more than 60 are in internationally refereed indexed journals. He is the author of seven very popular text books in Physics written in Sinhalese language for GCE advanced level students. He has also written many news paper articles in the local press aimed at generating scientific interest among school students, teachers and the general public. He has supervised more than 20 Ph.D./M.Phil. research students and continues to do so at present at the IFS. During his five year period from 2003 to 2008 as the Director of the PGIS, Professor Dissanayake was able to develop several new M.Sc. programmes including Disaster Management, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Medical Microbiology and also initiated the construction work for the new PGIS building at Peradeniya in 2007. Professor Dissanayake has served as a Board Member of the National Science Foundation and the IFS and as a Member of several National Taskforce Committees of the Ministry of Science and Technology. He was also the Chairman of the Asian Physics Education Network (ASPEN) from 2002 to 2006.

Professor Dissanayake was awarded the Sri Lanka National Award “Vidya Nidhi” by Her Excellency the President of Sri Lanka in 2005. He also received the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors (CVCD) Award from HE the President in 2010 for the Most Outstanding Researcher in Physical Sciences.

After nearly 40 years of dedicated service, Prof. Dissanayake retired from University service in 2010. He was awarded the Emeritus Professorship by University of Peradeniya in 2011. At present, he serves as a Research Professor at the Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy.

In recognition of his utmost contributions towards initiating and strengthening research activities as well as developing human resources in Science and Technology and Science Education, the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka has awarded him the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) at the General Convocation held on 28th May 2013 at the BMICH.