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Awards

Undergraduate scholarships, awards, medals and prizes are awarded to students on the basis of academic merit and other considerations. A brief outline of the awards offered to students in the Faculty of Science is given below. Details of specific requirements that are necessary to qualify for each award can be obtained from the Examinations Branch of the University and/or the relevant academic Department.

Department of Chemistry

Bhikaji Framji Khan Gold Medal for Chemistry

Selection Criteria: The medal is awarded to the student who shows the highest competence in Chemistry at the BSc Honours Degree examination.

Established Year: 1983

Narrative: The Bhikaji Framji Khan Gold Medal for Chemistry was established at the Ceylon University College in 1938 by Mr. F P Khan

Dharmachandra & Tamarasa Gunawardhana Memorial Gold Medal for Analytical Chemistry

Selection Criteria: This award is presented to the student with the best performance in Analytical Chemistry in the Chemistry BSc Honours Degree programme.

Established Year:

Narrative: This award was established by Professor H.D. Gunawardhana, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Mrs. P C Nanayakkara, in memory of their parents, Mr. H Dharmachandra Gunawardhana and Mrs. Tamarasa Podimenike Handinnapola Gunawardhana.

Prof. R S Ramakrishna Gold Medal for Inorganic Chemistry

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded for the best performance in Inorganic Chemistry in the Chemistry BSc Honours Degree programme.

Established Year: 2001

Narrative: The award was established in 2001 in honor of late Prof. R S Ramakrishna by his students.

Professor Pearlyn Pereira Memorial Gold Medal for Physical Chemistry

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded for the best performance in Physical Chemistry in the Chemistry BSc Honours Degree programme

Established Year: 2001

Narrative: The award was established in 2001 in memory of late Professor Pearlyn Pereira by her students.

Gold Medal for Organic Chemistry

Selection Criteria: The Gold Medal is awarded to the student who obtains the highest aggregate mark for the course units in Organic Chemistry offered in the BSc Honours Degree programme in Chemistry.

Established Year: 2010

Narrative: The award was established in 2010 by the 2003/2004 batch of special degree students of the Department of Chemistry.

Professor Stanley Wijesundera Memorial Gold Medal for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Selection Criteria: The award is for the best performance in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology course units in the BSc Honours Degree programme.

Established Year:

Narrative: This award was established in memory of Prof. Stanley Wijesundera, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, by his wife Mrs. Anoja Wijesundera.

The Gulamhusse in A J Noorbhai Gold Medal for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Selection Criteria: Awarded to a student who has shown the highest competence at the BSc Honours Degree examination in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Established Year: 1999

Narrative: The award was established by Dr. Tuwab Fazleabas F R C S (England) in 1999.

The Gulamhusse in A J Noorbhai Gold Medal for Pharmacy

Selection Criteria: Awarded to the student who has shown the highest competence at the BSc Honours Degree examination in Pharmacy.

Established Year: 1999

Narrative: The award was established by Dr.Tuwab Fazleabas F R C S (England) in 1999.

Department of Mathematics

Dharmadasa Punchihewa Memorial Prize for Mathematics

Selection Criteria: The prize is awarded for the best performance, with either a First or a Second-class Upper Division, in the BSc Honours Degree examination in Applied Mathematics or Computational Mathematics.

Established Year: 1983

Narrative: The Prize was founded by Mr. & Mrs. G W Jayasuriya in 1983, in memory of Mrs. Jayasuriya’s father, the late Mr. Dharmadasa Punchihewa.

Mr & Mrs. D P Epasinghe Memorial Gold Medal for Mathematics

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded to the student who has shown the highest competence in Mathematics at the BSc Honours Degree examination and having a First Class

Established Year: 2004

Narrative: This award was established in 2004 by Emeritus Prof. P W Epasinghe in memory of his parents.

Professor Valentine Joseph Memorial Gold Medal for Applied Mathematics

Selection Criteria: Awarded to the best student with a First Class pass in the BSc Honours degree in Applied Mathematics programme with the highest GPA.

Established Year: 2018

Narrative: This gold medal was established in 2018 by Colombo University Faculty of Science Alumni Association of North America in memory of late Professor Valentine Joseph, former Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Colombo.

Douglas Amarasekera Prize for the Best Student in Mathematics

Selection Criteria: Awarded to the student who performs best in the BSc Honours degree Pure Mathematics courses with at least a Second-Class Upper Division.

Established Year: 2004

Narrative: The prize was established in 2004 in memory of the late Douglas Amarasekera, former Professor of Mathematics, University of Colombo

The Gulamhusse in A J Noorbhai Gold Medal for Mathematics

Selection Criteria: Awarded to a student who has shown the highest competence at the BSc Honours Degree examination in Mathematical Finance.

Established Year: 1999

Narrative: The award was established by Dr. Tuwab Fazleabas F R C S (England) in 1999.

Department of Physics

Dr. C A Hewavitharana Memorial Prize for Physics

Selection Criteria: The prize is awarded to the student who shows the highest competence in Physics at the BSc Honours Degree examination.

Established Year: 1951

Narrative: Two Prizes were founded in 1951 by Mrs. C A Hewavitharana. One prize is awarded for Sanskrit and one for Physics, in memory of her husband, the late Dr. C A Hewavitharana, FRCS (Eng.) LRCP (Lond), a member of the Ceylon University College Council.

Mailvaganam Memorial Award in Physics

Selection Criteria: The prize is awarded to the student placed first with either a First-Class or a Second-Class upper division in the BSc Honours Degree examination in Physics.

Established Year:

Narrative: The Award was established in 1987 in memory of Professor A.W. Mailvaganam, Professor of Physics at the University of Ceylon and University of Colombo by Mr. H D S A Gunawardena (a student of Prof. A W Mailvaganam),

Mr. A G W Perera Memorial Gold Medal for Engineering Physics

Selection Criteria: The Gold Medal shall be awarded to the student placed first with a First-Class division in the BSc Honours Degree examination in Engineering Physics.

Established Year:

Narrative: This Medal was established in memory of Mr. A G W Perera.

Dr. Sarath Gunapala Gold Medal for Computational Physics

Selection Criteria: This Gold Medal shall be awarded to the student placed first with a First-Class division in the BSc Honours Degree examination in Computational Physics.

Established Year:

Narrative:

The Gulamhusse in A J Noorbhai Gold Medal for Research Project in Physics

Selection Criteria: Awarded to the student who has shown the highest competence in the research project in Physics with an “A" grade

Established Year: 1999

Narrative: The award was established by Dr.Tuwab Fazleabas F R C S (England) in 1999.

Department of Plant Sciences

Prof. B L T de Silva Memorial Award in Plant Sciences

Selection Criteria: The award is for the student who shows the best performance in the Plant Sciences or Plant Biotechnology BSc Honours Degree programmes.

Established Year:

Narrative: The Award was established in memory of the late Prof. B L T de Silva, Professor of Botany, University of Ceylon, by his colleagues and students.

Prof. P C Sarbadhikari Award for Plant Science

Selection Criteria: The award is for the best performance in Plant Sciences in the BSc Degree programme (03-year duration)

Amount of Scholarship: 1000/-

Established Year: 1995

Narrative: This award was established in memory of Prof. P C Sarbadhikari by Prof. B A Abeywickrema. Prof. P C Sarbadhikari, MSc (Calcutta), PhD, DSc. (London) was appointed as a Lecturer in Botany at the University College in 1925 and the Professor of Botany in 1943 in the University of Ceylon.

Sir Nigel Ball Award for Plant Sciences

Selection Criteria: The award is for the best performance in Advanced Plant Physiology and Plant Biochemistry in the BSc Honours Degree programmes of the Department of Plant Sciences.

Amount of Scholarship: 1000/-

Established Year: 1995

Narrative: This award was established in memory of Sir Nigel Ball, M A., Sc.D. (Dub.) by Prof. B A Abeywickrema. Sir Nigel Ball was appointed the Professor of Botany in the University College in 1924 and in 1942 in the University of Ceylon.

Prof. B A Abeywickrema Award for Plant Sciences

Selection Criteria: This award is for the best performance in Plant Systematics and Ecology related courses (as specified by the Department) in the Plant Sciences BSc Honours Degree Programme.

Established Year:

Narrative: The staff members of the Department of Plant Sciences established this award in recognition of the excellent service rendered by Prof. B A Abeywickrema, former Professor of Botany, University of Colombo.

Dr. Swarna Senathirajah Memorial Prize for Genetics and Plant Breeding

Selection Criteria: The prize is awarded to a student in the BSc Honours Degree programmes in the Department of Plant Sciences, who performs best in the Genetics and Plant Breeding courses.

Established Year:

Narrative: The University of Colombo Science Teachers Association established this endowment in 1985 in memory of Dr. (Mrs.) Swarna Senathirajah of the Department of Plant Sciences.

Department of Statistics

CR and Bhargavi Rao Gold Medal for Statistics

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded to the best student in the BSc Honours Degree programmes (with research orientation) of the Department of Statistics, University of Colombo. The best student is selected from among the eligible students who have obtained
− a First Class with an overall GPA of 3.70 or above (out of 4.00) and the highest weighted aggregate in the respective graduation year
AND
− at least A grades (in his/her first attempt) for all the course modules taken during Levels III and IV of the BSc Honours degree programme, including the final year research project (supervised by a senior staff member).

Established Year: 2018

Narrative: The award was by the Eminent Scientist and Mathematical Statistician Prof. Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao in 2018.

Mr. and Mrs. V W Samaranayake Memorial Gold Medal for Statistics

Selection Criteria: The award is made to the student with the highest GPA among those having a GPA of 3.30 and above in the BSc Honours degree programme in Statistics

Narrative: The award was founded by Professor V.K. Samaranayake, former Professor of Mathematics, University of Colombo, Mrs. V K Samaranayake and Mr. V A Samaranayake of the Department of Statistics, Kansas University, USA in memory of the late Mr. & Mrs. V W Samaranayake.

Prof. V K Samaranayake Memorial Gold Medal for Statistics with Computer Science

Selection Criteria: The award is made to the student who obtains the highest GPA among those having a GPA of 3.30 or above in the BSc Honours degree programme in Statistics with Computer Science.

Established Year:

Narrative: The gold Medal was founded by the Department of Statistics

Gold medal for Industrial Statistics

Selection Criteria: The Gold medal is awarded to the student who obtains the highest GPA amongst those having a GPA of 3.3 or above in the Industrial Statistics BSc Honours Degree Programme.

Established Year:

Narrative: The gold medal was established by the staff of the Department of Statistics.

Gold Medal for the Best Final Year Research Project in Statistics

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded for the best performance in the final year project with an “A” grade in the Statistics BSc Honours degree programme, having at least a GPA of 3.30.

Established Year:

Narrative: The Gold Medal was established by the staff of the Department of Statistics.

Gold medal for the Best Final Year Research project in Statistics with Computer Science

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded to the student who obtains a minimum GPA of 3.30 and the highest marks for the final year project with an “A” grade in the Statistics with Computer science BSc Honours degree programme.

Established Year:

Narrative: The above Gold Medal was established by the Department of Statistics.

Gold medal for the Best Final Year Research Project in Industrial Statistics

Selection Criteria: The Gold medal shall be awarded to the student who obtains highest marks for the final year project with a grade “A or above” amongst those having a GPA of 3.3 or above in the Industrial Statistics BSc Honours Degree Programme.

Established Year:

Narrative: The above medal was established by the staff of the Department of Statistics

Gold Medal for the Best Student in Applied Statistics Programme

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded to the best student who has the highest GPA out of the students who complete the BSc Honours degree proramme (with industrial orientation) in “Applied Statistics” and obtains an overall GPA of 3.30 or above.

Established Year:

Narrative: Gold Medal was established by the Department of Statistics in 2018.

Department of Zoology & Environment Sciences

P B Karunaratne Memorial Gold Medal for Ornithology

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded for the best performance in Ornithology in the Zoology BSc Honours Degree programme

Established Year: 2001

Narrative: The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka established the award in 2001 in memory of the late P B Karunaratne, field ornithologist.

The Field Ornithology Group Gold Medal for Business and Environment

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded for the best performance in the BSc Honours Degree programme in Business and Environment (industrial orientation)

Established Year: 2001

Narrative: The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka established the award for an environment related course in 2001.

Profr. S W Kotagama Gold Medal for the best student in the BSc Honours Degree Programme in Environment Science

Selection Criteria: TThe gold Medal awarded to the student who obtains the highest GPA from among those who fulfil the requirements for a First Class in the BSc Honours Degree pragramme in Environment Science.

Established Year:

Narrative: The above Gold Medal has been established by the Department of Zoology and Environment Science and Base for Enthusiasts of Environmental Science and Zoology (BEEZ).

The Gulamhusse in A J Noorbhai Gold Medal for Research Project in Zoology

Selection Criteria: Awarded to the student who has shown the highest competence in the research project in Zoology with an “A” grade.

Established Year: 1999

Narrative: The award was established by Dr. Tuwab Fazleabas F R C S (England) in 1999.

The Gulamhusse in A J Noorbhai Gold Medal for Zoology

Selection Criteria: Awarded to the student who has shown the highest competence at the BSc Honours Degree examination in Zoology.

Established Year: 1999

Narrative: The award was established by Dr. Tuwab Fazleabas F R CS. (England) in 1999.

The Prof. P C B and Clauda Fernando Award for the Best Undergraduate Research Project in the Immunology & Integrative Molecular Biology Programme

Selection Criteria: Awarded to a student of the BSc Honours Degree in the Immunology & Integrative Molecular Biology Programme of the Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, who obtains the highest mark (at least an ‘A’ grade) for the final year research project and has completed all other requirements for graduation.

Established Year:

Narrative: The award was established by Prof. Preethi Gunaratne in memory of her late parents.

Field Ornithology Group Gold medal for Conservation Biology

Selection Criteria: The Gold medal is awarded to the student who has obtained a GPA of 3.30 or better at the level III examination in Science and is placed first in the order of merit in the ZL 3069, Fundamentals of Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management course and has obtained an “A" grade for this unit.

Established Year: 2015

Narrative: The field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka established the award for the Conservation Biology course in 2015.

Gold Medal for the Best final year Research Project in Environmental Science

Selection Criteria: Awarded to the student who has shown the highest competence in the research project in Zoology with an “A” grade.

Established Year:

Narrative: The award is established for the EN honours degree best research project.

Kirthisinghe Memorial Prize in Zoology

Selection Criteria: The award is for the best student admitted to the Honours Degree programme in Zoology

Established Year:

Narrative: The Kirthisinghe Memorial Prize in Zoology was founded in 1981 by Dr. D Kirthisinghe and Mrs. L R Amarasuriya, in memory of their late father Prof. P  Kirthisinghe who was on the staff of the University of Colombo.

Other Awards

Coomaraswamy Prize

Selection Criteria: The prize is awarded to the student who shows the highest competence in the BSc Degree Programme.

Established Year:

Narrative: The Coomaraswamy Prize was founded at the Ceylon University College in 1922 by the late Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam in memory of his uncle Sir Mutu Coomaraswamy.

Justin Samarasekara Award for the Most Outstanding Science Student of the Year

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded for the best performance in the BSc Honours Degree programme in Business and Environment (industrial orientation)

Established Year: 1979

Narrative: The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka established the award for an environment related course in 2001.

The Award for the Best Student in the BSc Degree Programme in Biological Science

Selection Criteria: This is awarded to the best student (based on the weighted average) either in the Biological Science or Biochemistry & Molecular Biology streams. The student will only be eligible for the award if he/she has obtained a BSc Degree with First Class Honours.

Established Year:

Narrative:

The award is made to the student who shows the highest (weighted average) and having a First Class, either in Physical Science or Industrial Statistics and Mathematical Finance streams in the BSc Degree.

Selection Criteria: The award is made to the student who shows the highest (weighted average) and having a First Class, either in Physical Science or Industrial Statistics and Mathematical Finance streams in the BSc Degree.

Established Year: 1995

Narrative: Mr. Dhammika and the late Dr. Maya Gunasekara established this award in 1995.

Joseph Nalliah Arumugam Memorial Award

Selection Criteria: The gold medal is awarded to the student who shows the highest competence in the final examination in Science.

Established Year: 1986

Narrative: Dr. (Mrs.) L G Arumugam established, in 1986, an endowment with the UGC in order to award five Scholarships and two Gold Medals to various universities in memory of her late husband Mr. Joseph Nalliah Arumugam, (CBS, CCS, BSc, and Barrister-at-Law).