Professor Lakshman Perera Samaranayake is currently an Emeritus Professor and a past Dean of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong. He is also a Visiting-Professor, at the Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, and four other universities including the University of Peradeniya, and Sri Jayawardhanapura University, Colombo. He has expertise in oral and medical microbiology, research (over 450 papers), and senior executive-level administration. He was the former Executive Dean of two major dental schools at the Universities of Hong Kong and Queensland, Australia. While at the Faculty of Dentistry at HKU, it was the top-ranked dental school in the world from 2014 to 2016.
Professor Lakshman was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 by the Sri Lanka Foundation International for being the first dental professional in Sri Lanka to receive the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and for his exceptional academic contributions to the international dental academia.
Professor Lakshman has received the following notable international recognitions and awards since he was awarded by the Sri Lanka Foundation International in 2014:
– Hon. Dr. (Yerevan Medical University, Armenia) – first Asian to be so honored (2024).
– Ranked 11th out of 43,737 microbiologists in China by the national scientific analytics. Research.com.(2023) https://research.com/scientists-rankings/microbiology/cn
– President’s Award of the International Association for Oral Pathology (IAOP), 2023.
– High Potential distinguished Professor (Second Century Fund), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand (2023).
He has held prestigious positions all over the world, such as:
– Visiting Professor, D Y Patil University College of Dentistry, Pune, India (2023-2024).
– Advisory Professor to the Vice-Chancellor, Walalaik University, Thailand (2022).
– Visiting Professor, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2018).
– Visiting Professor, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (2018).
– Professor Emeritus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (2015-present)
Professor Lakshman is passionate about developing a research foundation for his alma mater University of Peradeniya (PU) to obtain philanthropic donations from individuals and industry. To initiate this project, he donated over Rs 4 million in 2018 to establish an award scheme for the university research academics at PU (entitled Lakshman Samaranayake Research Excellence Awards) which is currently operational.
He is now working to enhance this initiative and will be contributing an additional Rs 5 million at a ceremony in August 2024 to establish an Endowed Professorship Scheme for the university. Upon its establishment, this will mark a pioneering endeavor for the entire university system in Sri Lanka with hopes that other universities will emulate it.
He also extends an appeal to all alumni, well-wishers, and industrialists to partake in this initiative by creating endowments named after the donors or their cherished ones, ensuring a legacy within this esteemed institution. If anyone is interested please contact him at lakshman@hku.hk for further details.
