Rakitha Malewana

Rakitha Malewana is a Sri Lankan young scientist and youth activist. He works primarily in medical and molecular biology research. Rakitha is known for his award-winning work on HIV/AIDS which he performed when he was a high school student. He was presented with Nalanda Puthra (Best student of the school) award in 2015 by his alma mater Nalanda College, Colombo and received special appreciation grand achievement award from the President and the government of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. In 2016, he was announced as a winner of prestigious Queen's Young Leaders Award by the Royal Commonwealth Society as an honor to his social work on behalf of the HIV and AIDS positive community. He is one of the youngest honorees of Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2017.

Rakitha Malewana
Born
Kandy
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationNalanda College, Colombo
Known forMedical Research and Social Work

Early life

He was born in Kandy, and received his education at Nalanda College, Colombo. While at school Rakitha has been doing many extra curricular activities and has been the President of the College Science Society, Science Researchers' Society and Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society. He became the top ballet dancer at Nalanda College in 2011.[1] He is working as a Dubbing Artist, a Voice Artist and a Television host at Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and some other leading television and radio networks in Sri Lanka.

Medical Research and Achievements

Rakitha does his medical research in collaboration with University of Colombo, Medical Research Institute Sri Lanka, National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Health and Government Annalists Department Sri Lanka.

He won a Gold medal for the research he has done on HIV/AIDS at the International Scientific Research Olympiad 2015 held in Jakarta, Indonesia in year 2015.[2] In the same year he won another Gold Medal at the International Environment Sustainability Olympiad 2015, held in The Netherlands[3][4][5] By emerging those medals, he became the first Sri Lankan to win an Olympiad gold medal at the international arena.

His research on development of novel nanoparticles to destroy human leukemic cells, won a Bronze Medal at the International Science Projects Olympiad 2014 held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Also, the research was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) 2014 held in Los Angeles, USA is one of the most prestigious science and engineering events in the world calendar.[6][7][8][9][10]

Intel ISEF 2014, Los Angeles. U.S.

In 2013, his research on Dengue fever was selected as the National Winner of Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) and for the second consecutive year, he represented Sri Lanka at the Intel ISEF 2013 held in Arizona, USA.[11] .[12] Also Rakitha had authored few medical publications during his high school period [13][14][15][16]

Activism

Rakitha first started working with people affected by HIV/AIDS in 2011, when he visited slum areas to teach sciences to the children of people living with HIV. In 2012, he founded HAMZTER ideanerd Sri Lanka, which encourages schoolchildren to get involved in scientific research, and promotes an innovation culture. So far, it has helped more than 50,000 students all over the country. In 2015, Rakitha co-founded United Youth Consortium to raise awareness of sexual reproductive health issues, and provide support and counseling to families living with HIV. His movements including fighting with the government to bring justice to HIV positive children who were banned to attend local schools. Rakitha is collaborating his activities with National STD/AIDS Control Programme Sri Lanka and UNAIDS Sri Lanka.[17][18][19]

For his volunteer work, he was awarded the prestigious Queen's Young Leaders Award in 2016. The Queen's Young Leaders Award is designed to inspire and nurture the talent of exceptional young people from all over the Commonwealth and they can create and lead others towards securing positive changes in communities. The award will be presented by her majesty the queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace.[20]

Rakitha also co-founded the volunteer based organization called United Youth Consortium (UNYCom) following his trip to the United kingdom.[21][22]

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References
  1. Cancer cure breakthrough by Nalanda student: Ceylon tea, the saviour
  2. Nalandians Rakitha and Rananjaya win Gold at ISPRO 2015
  3. INESPO Congratulations!! Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Winners of INESPO 2015
  5. International Environment Sustainability Olympiad
  6. Science Research Project Competition(SRPC) 2013
  7. 4 Lankan kids to attend Intel ISEF competition
  8. Sri Lankan Green Tea as a treatment for Leukeamia
  9. Intel – International Science and Engineering Program
  10. Sri Lankan students achieve success in the Intel - International Science and Engineering Program
  11. Nalanda Students Find a Cure forLeukemia from Green Tea
  12. SRI LANKA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR (SLSEF)2014
  13. SRI LANKAN STUDENT RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADE FOR FINDING CANCER CURE
  14. Cancer cure breakthrough by Nalanda student: Ceylon tea, the saviour
  15. SLSEF helps young Lankan minds enter the global arena
  16. Three Sri Lankan students depart for Intel ISEF
  17. Two Sri Lankans receive Queen’s Young Leader Award
  18. ANC Education supports emerging scientists
  19. Rakitha’s Story
  20. Sri Lanka winners to receive special award from Queen
  21. Young and unafraid
  22. Change makers, ground breakers
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