Prof. Pitawala receives ‘Coomaraswamy Medal’
‘Geological Society of Sri Lanka’ offers ‘Ananda Coomaraswamy Medal’ every year to an eminent earth scientist who has made an exceptional contribution towards understanding the geology of Sri Lanka, to honour the late Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy for his pioneering contribution on broadening the geological knowledge in Sri Lankan context.
Professor H.M.T.G.A Pitawala was awarded the prestigious ‘Ananda Coomaraswamy Medal 2017’ conferred by Geological Society of Sri Lanka (GSSL) for his outstanding contribution on exploring the geology of Sri Lanka. The event was held on 22nd of August 2018 at P.W Vitanage lecture theatre, Department of Geology, University of Peradeniya with the presence of President of Geological Society of Sri Lanka, Executive Committee members of the GSSL, distinguished invitees, GSSL members, academics, geoscientists from various disciplines and undergraduate students of the Department of Geology.
Prof. Deepal Subasinghe, the President of Geological Society Sri Lanka, delivered the welcome address at ‘Ananda Coomaraswamy Medal’ (ACM) awarding ceremony. The citation for the award was read by Prof. Rohan Fernando from Open University of Sri Lanka. Prof. Pitawala, the ‘Ananda Coomaraswamy Medal recipient of the year 2017’ delivered Ananda Coomaraswamy memorial oration on “Mineralogy, Petrography, Geochemistry and Economic Potential of Crystalline Limestones (Marbles) and Carbonatites of Sri Lanka”. At the end of GSSL special session Dr. Daham Jayawardana, the secretary of GSSL delivered the Vote of Thanks.
‘Geological Society of Sri Lanka’ offers ‘Ananda Coomaraswamy Medal’ every year to an eminent earth scientist who has made an exceptional contribution towards understanding the geology of Sri Lanka, to honour the late Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy for his pioneering contribution on broadening the geological knowledge in Sri Lankan context.
Prof. Pitawala is an outstanding geoscientist in Sri Lanka as well as a dedicated teacher in Geology for university students. Currently, he is working on diverse disciplines of Geoscience including studies on contamination of groundwater, surface water and soils of Sri Lanka, petrogenesis of carbonatites of Sri Lanka, geochemistry of weathering of carbonatites and other igneous rocks of Sri Lanka, geochemistry and provenance of stream sediments, tsunami sediments and gem sediments of Sri Lanka, industrial applications of carbonate rocks, pegmatites, graphite and secondary deposits (eg: red clay, iron ore, phosphate deposits,etc) and exploring paleoenvironment and paleoclimate of historical sites of Sri Lanka.
Based on his research works, Prof. Pitawala has been able to publish more than 80 research papers in well reputed peer reviewed journals. In addition, he has written two books, two book chapters and has published more than 180 abstracts at conference proceedings. Prof. Pitawala received ‘Presidential Awards’ several times for his remarkable contribution in scientific research. Further, he has already received one patent and applied for another six patents based on his current scientific findings. His research career has further been strengthened by local and overseas funding partnerships as well as research collaborations with Japan, Australia, Germany, France and UK.
From his early career phase, Prof. Pitawala was able to establish a long lasting foundation cherished with awards, honours and scholarships including, University Scholarship for the best result in Special Science Degree in Geology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (1992), P.G. Cooray Medal from Geological Society of Sri Lanka (2001), DAAD Fellowship, Geoforschung Zentrum, Potsdam, Germany (2004), Endeavour Fellowship, James Cook University, Australia (2008), Merit Award from National Research Council, Sri Lanka (2010 & 2015) and SUSRED (Support Scheme for Supervision of Research Degrees) Award from National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (2016).
Prof. Pitawala obtained his PHD in Geochemistry and Petrology in 1999 from Johannes Gutenberg University and Max-planck Institute, Mainz, Germany and M.phil in Geochemistry in 1995 from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He was a graduate of BSC. Geology special degree programme offered by University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 1992.
For his teaching career, Prof. Pitawala conducts lectures and laboratory sessions in different areas of geological science including Geochemistry (Isotope Geology, Analytical Techniques, Oceanography, Environmental Geology) and Petrology (Igneous petrology and Geology of Sri Lanka) for undergraduate curriculum and Environmental Geology, Chemical Oceanography, Geochemistry and Igneous Petrology for postgraduate students.
As for the administrative role, Prof. Pitawala served as the Head, Department of Geology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2013, as a Council Member of International Geoscience Education Organization during 2010 – 2014, as the President, Geological Society of Sri Lanka in 2014 and as the Chairman, of Curriculum Revision Committee, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya in 2017. In addition, he has also been served as a Member of Sri Lankan Earth Science Olympiad Committee, Sri Lanka from 2010 to date, as a Council Member of Institute of Geology, Sri Lanka from 2014 to date, as a Member of the Presidential Adversary Committee for Mineral Resources, Sri Lanka from 2016 to date, as the Chairman of Board of Study in Earth Sciences at Postgraduate Institute of Science, Univetrsity of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka from 2016 to date and as the Editor of Institute of Geology, Sri Lanka from 2017 to date. Prof. Pitawala currently serves as the Acting Director of Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya. Congratulations Prof. Pitawala on your great achievement! (Photo Courtesy of the event: Shaluka Seneviratne-pera Beats INSIGHTS).