Scholar, Author, Diplomat, Historian, Professor and Patriot. Born in Galle, Sri Lanka, Dr. Guruge was a national and international civil servant and a high ranking diplomat for the Sri Lankan Government and UNESCO (United Nationals Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) from 1952 to 1992. He served as the Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, France and the United States (with a non resident accreditation to Spain, Algeria and Mexico) between 1985 and 1994.
Dr. Guruge was a professor at many universities in the USA including the State University of New York, Cal State Fullerton and the University of the West. As a prolific writer in Sinhala and English, he wrote 53 books including “What in brief is Buddhism”, “Peace at Last in Paradise”, “The Unforgettable Dharmapala”, “Asoka”, “Mahavamsa-A New Translation” and “Voices from Ancient Sri Lanka.” He also published over 175 research articles on Asian History, Buddhism and Education.
He won many awards: For his national and international services he was awarded the Kalakirti Award (1987), Desamanya Award (1992), Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa 1986), Silver Medal of UNESCO (1991), UNESCO Human Rights Medal (1992), U. Thant Peace Award (1997), International Peace keeper award 1998 (California State Senate) and the Grand Medal of Merit of the World Fellowship of Buddhism (2000) to name a few.
