Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding UK Alumni who have made an impact through their work in their respective fields.

Winner - Science and Sustainability Award

Dr Mohamed Rishard Mohamed Riyal

University of Dundee

A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Dr Rishard is also an Honorary Consultant at De Soysa Hospital for Women. With an MD and Royal College membership, he initiated a free online training program and won a national prize. His innovative designs, like the 'Curved Cervix Holding Forceps' , aim to prevent preterm births.

Winner - Culture and Creativity Award

Lanka Bandaranayake

Bournemouth University

A Chevening scholar, Lanka is a filmmaker and activist, who founded a media production firm 'Lanka Cine' with her debut film, 'Tradition', gaining international acclaim. With several awards under her belt such as Jury Special Award at SAARC Film Festival, and Best Cinematography at 'Euro Kino' Czech International Independent Film Festival 2017, she has gained international recognition with ongoing projects in Thailand and USA.

Winner - Social Action Award

Poornima Meegammana

Northumbria University

Founder of Nextgen Girls in Technology (Nextgen), Poornima was awarded Forbes 30 under 30 in 2022. She has dedicated the past decade to advancing technology education amongst Girls, winning global accolades like UNESCO Prize and ITU WSIS Prizes. Named Sri Lanka's Social Entrepreneur of the Year, she directs the Nextgen Skills program at the Shilpa Sayura Foundation, impacting 2000+ university students and 1000+ school students.

Winner - Business and Innovation Award

Lishni Tilakaratne

University of Westminster

A tech and design innovator, Lishni pioneered Rootcode Studio's mission to elevate Sri Lanka into a global design hub, addressing the local UX industry gap. She initiated strategic partnerships with major state and private universities, organizing UX bootcamps, workshops, and lectures. As a dedicated mentor, she successfully attracted and groomed a skilled talent pool, contributing to the growth of Sri Lanka's UX landscape.