Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya, recipient of the highest award presented by the International Center for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) in Rome, was honored at Temple Trees on the 22^nd of February 2022. Renowned architect and archaeologist, Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya is one of the world’s foremost scholars on heritage management in the 20th and 21st centuries. Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya presented the Sinhala translations of five internationally published books containing important documents, to the Hon. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Since 1969, there have been over 50 ICCROM Awards, representing various academic disciplines around the world. South Asia has won only three awards and this is the first time a Sri Lankan has won the award.

Born in Assadduma village, Kurunegala, Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya studied at Nagollagoda Maha Vidyalaya and Nalanda College, Colombo and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Masters Degree in Architecture from the University of Moratuwa. He then began his career as a Chartered Architect. Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya holds a Masters Degree in Archeology / Heritage Management from York University in the United Kingdom and another Masters Degree in History / Conservation from Carnegie Mellon University in the United States. He then obtained his PhD from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, where he presented his dissertation on “Meditation monasteries in Ancient Sri Lanka”. Mr. Wijesuriya joined the field of Archeology as the Initiative Project Manager of the Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle. He then served on the Department of Archeology for 18 years as Deputy Commissioner (Architect) and Director (Architectural Conservation), joining ICCROM staff as the first Asian professional to join its service.

Director General of Archeology Prof. Senior Archaeologist Anura Manatunga, Director General of the Central Cultural Fund Prof. Archaeologist Gamini Ranasinghe, Russell Dandeniya, Architect, Institute of Architects of Sri Lanka and ICOMOS Vice President of Sri Lanka Dr. B.D. Nandadeva were also presented with gifts at the ceremony.

State Ministers Vidura Wickramanayake and Lohan Ratwatte, Ambassador of Italy Rita Giuliana Mannella, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Prof. Kapila Gunawardena, Secretary to the Ministry of National Heritage, Performing Arts and Rural Artist Promotion Nishanthi Jayasinghe, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Mahinda Gunaratne, Additional Director, Department of Archeology, Archaeologist Prasanna B. Ratnayake and many other dignitaries were also present at this ceremony.