Ms. Piumika Yapa, a postgraduate student of the Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, has been honored with the Prof. M. U. S. Sultanbawa Award for Research in Chemistry – 2024, in recognition of her unique, distinguished, and significant contribution made to the cause of Science, Chemistry, Education and Research in Sri Lanka. This prestigious award is conferred by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC) for the best research paper presented at the 53rd Annual Sessions, titled “Multimetallic Silica Nanohybrids Incorporated Nanofiber Membrane for Potential Synergistic Antibacterial Applications.”
Her research was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Imalka Munaweera, with Dr. Laksiri Weerasinghe and Prof. Manjula Weerasekera serving as co-supervisors. This project centred on the development of advanced nanohybrid membrane systems designed to deliver enhanced antibacterial efficacy through the synergistic action of multimetallic nanoparticles.
The award was ceremoniously presented at the Inaugural Ceremony of the 54th Annual Sessions of the IChemC, held on the 16th of June 2025 at the BMICH, Sri Lanka.
The Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, is proud to announce the remarkable achievements of its students at the 11th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches (iCMA) – 2025, organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Our students demonstrated exceptional academic prowess and research innovation, securing multiple prestigious awards across various tracks at the conference held on April 3, 2025.
🥇 Gold Medal for Best Oral Presentation – Health Sciences and Nutrition
Ms. Piumika Yapa, a brilliant postgraduate researcher under the mentorship of Prof. Imalka Munaweera, was awarded the 1st Place Gold Medal for her outstanding oral presentation titled:
“Combined Antibiofilm Properties of Multimetallic Silica Polymeric Nanohybrids Against a Broad Spectrum of Pathogenic Microorganisms.”
Her work, which focuses on advanced nanomaterials for combating biofilms formed by harmful microorganisms, represents a major step forward in the field of health sciences and nanotechnology. We extend our warmest congratulations to Ms. Yapa and Prof. Munaweera for this extraordinary achievement and their commitment to impactful scientific research.
🥇 Gold Medal – Poster Presentation in Engineering and Physical Sciences
Mr. Isuru Udara Gallage, supervised by Dr. Upul Kumarasinghe and co-supervised by Dr. Asitha Cooray and Dr. Tharindu Senapathi, won the Gold Medal and Certificate for 1st Place in the poster presentation category. His innovative research, titled:
“Green Synthesis of Indole-Derived Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Detection of Fe³⁺ Ions in Aqueous Solutions,”
stood out in the Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Technological Innovation track. His work presents an environmentally friendly approach to metal ion detection with potential applications in environmental monitoring and chemical sensing.
🥇 Best Presenter Award – Life Sciences Track
Mr. H.M. Kasun Dilshan Herath, supervised by Dr Isurika Fernando received the Gold Medal for Best Presenter for his oral presentation on:
“Fabrication of β-Cyclodextrin-Phenyl Host-Guest Complex-Based Novel Homotypic Supramolecular Hydrogel.”
Presented in the Life Sciences track, his research focuses on developing innovative soft materials with potential biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. His articulate delivery and scientific insight earned him top honors in this category.
🥈 Second Place – Best Presenter Award
Ms. Nipuni Dehigapala, supervised by Dr. Tharindu Senapathi and co-supervised by Dr. Chandima Narangoda, was awarded Second Place for Best Presentation for her computational chemistry research titled:
“Design and Computational Evaluation of a Plumbagin-Triazole Hybrid as a Potential SGK1 Inhibitor.”
This work blends drug design with computational modeling to propose novel therapeutic candidates, highlighting the department’s growing expertise in cheminformatics and molecular modeling.
These accolades reflect the Department of Chemistry’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and fostering a culture of innovation. We congratulate all the awardees, their supervisors, and everyone who contributed to this success. Their achievements bring immense pride to the university and serve as a source of inspiration for all aspiring scientists and researchers.
