Kudos for Karunaratne

Saturday, 15 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Institution of Engineers – Sri Lanka bestowed the prestigious Eminence in Engineering Award 2011 to Professor S. Karunaratne (Chairman – SLIIT) in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments and achievements in the field of engineering and for professionalism and pursuit of eminence in this sphere. The awards ceremony was held at Waters Edge on 5 October.

Professor Karunaratne is presently the Chairman and Chancellor of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT).

He is also a director and past Chairman of Sri Lanka Technology Incubator (Pvt.) Ltd., a company dedicated to nurturing nascent IT companies, some of which have made their mark in the software development and consultancy domain in the country, serving a large clientele both here and abroad. In recognition of his academic accomplishments, excellence and professional leadership he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by his Alma Mater, the University of Moratuwa – Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, in recognition of his long-standing academic and professional contribution and his dedicated efforts towards developing the University of Moratuwa to a high level of distinction, he was conferred the honorary title of Professor Emeritus by the University of Moratuwa.

He pioneered the use of digital computers in Sri Lanka as far back as 1967, and managed the first-ever digital computer system installed in Sri Lanka at the State Engineering Corporation.

Subsequently, together with a few dedicated enthusiasts, Professor Karunaratne established SLIIT in 1999, which has grown to become the largest degree awarding institute in the field of Information Technology in Sri Lanka.

The institute has thus far produced 5,000 graduates in Information Technology with Bachelors and Masters degrees and a further 15,000 IT professionals, amounting to nearly half of all IT professionals in the country.