Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala, Senior Professor at the Department of Botany has been awarded with the prestigious Most Outstanding Senior Researcher award in the Field of Life Sciences and Dr Nadeesh M. Adassooriya, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya has secured the prestigious Most Outstanding Young Researcher award in the Field of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at the CVCD award ceremony 2022 held on the 9th of June 2023. CVCD Excellence Awards have been presented by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors from the 22 state Universities and institutes, to recognize, appreciate, and honour the outstanding contributions, accomplishments and impact made by academic staff in the Sri Lankan state University system.
Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala earned her B.Sc. with First Class Honors from the Peradeniya University, and Ph.D. in Molecular Plant Systematics from the University of Reading, UK. Currently serves as a Senior Professor and she undertook further research overseas, under Endeavor and Fulbright Fellowships. She has published widely in her area, 76 journal articles and 142 research communications. Prof. Yakandawala received Presidential awards for Scientific Research in successive years (2007-2010), National Research Council Merit award (2014), SUSRED-Award (2018), and Faculty “Excellence in Research” (2017-2021). In recognition of her expertise, she was invited to function as a Member of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Plant Specialist Group, Floral Expert Group-National Red Listing Committee, and Research Council, National Institute of Fundamental Studies. Her timely intervention, research and leadership enabled correct identification of the country’s National Flower, 25 years after its declaration.
Dr Nadeesh Adassooriya obtained his B.Sc. Honours in Chemistry with First Class from University of Sri Jaywardenepura in 2009 and PhD in Engineering in the field of energy materials from University of Cambridge, UK in 2017. In 2022, he secured a research fellowship from Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT), USA. He has authored/co-authored over 100 research publications, which were presented at well reputed journals and international/national conferences. His research publications have been cited over 1400 times with H-index of 18 to date. He has two US patents to his name and one of them holds the record of first Nanotechnology based US patent from Sri Lanka. He has contributed to over 25 book chapters and a couple of textbooks in nanotechnology related areas published by leading international publishers. He is a recipient of numerous international and national awards and research grants. Dr Adassooriya has a diverse research interest which includes nanocomposites for agricultural applications, nanodielectrics and energy storage, mechanochemistry and crystal engineering.
The University of Peradeniya conveys its congratulations for their future endeavors.
