This Gold Medal is named in honour of Prof. Senake Bandaranayake, one of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished archaeologists, the Founder and first Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), University of Kelaniya. His visionary leadership laid the institutional and intellectual foundations for postgraduate archaeological education and research in Sri Lanka, shaping generations of scholars and professionals in the discipline. Professor Bandaranayake’s research emphasised the dynamic relationship between human societies and their natural environments, integrating archaeology with ecology, geography, and history. His scholarship significantly advanced understanding of settlement patterns, environmental adaptation, and long-term cultural change in Sri Lanka and the wider region.

The medal recognises outstanding academic achievement in Environmental Archaeology, reflecting Professor Bandaranayake’s enduring commitment to interdisciplinary research and scholarly excellence.