International recognition for Dr. Ajith Perera
|
Dr Ajith Perera receiving the accolade of excellence from Sir
John Hopson. Professor Theresa Thuy and Professor Mayisvren
Ellappen are also present.
|
A humanitarian award - a framed accolade of excellence - was
presented to Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera by the Open International University
for Complementary Medicines (OIUCM) at its 49th World Congress held last
week at BMICH in Colombo.
This honour was conferred in recognition of the invaluable
contribution and excellence of Dr. Ajith Perera’s work- with unreserved
commitment and competence in fostering the ideals of humanitarianism in
the promotion of accessibility to the built environment enhancing social
inclusion for all.
This award was presented to Dr. Perera by Professor Dr. Dame Nguyen
Theresa Thu Thuy - International Vice Chancellor of OIUCM, Victoria
Australia; Professor Dr. Sir John Hopson - Grand Master of the Knights
of Charity, England; and Professor Dr. Sir Mayisvren Ellappen - Dean,
Faculty of Complementary Medicines, Allianze University College of
Medical Sciences, Malaysia. Dr. Perera is a Chartered Chemist, a Fellow
of many reputed international bodies including the prestigious Royal
Society of Chemistry London and has gained national honour in being
appointed to the test-match-panel of cricket umpires of Sri Lanka in
November 1992.
A day later, a way side tree crashed on his moving car in Colombo
which killed his chauffer and left young Perera instantaneously
paraplegic for life.
Unhesitatingly, he has bounced back to play simultaneously different
productive roles and voluntarily be an inspirational leader of a
laudable humanitarian mission of national importance.
He was also instrumental in persuading and promoting the Sri Lanka
Standards Institution to establish for the first time in March 2009 a
Sri Lankan standard for design in building construction. Dr. Perera
appeared in person on his wheelchair in April 2011 at the Supreme Court
successfully to pursue single-handedly a public interest litigation
fundamental rights application to require unhindered access to all parts
of new public buildings, thus requiring compliance with design standards
that laws specify and to bring ‘punitive repercussions’ for violators. |
