Rakitha Malewana

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. 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. In the same year he won another Gold Medal at the International Environment Sustainability Olympiad 2015, held in The Netherlands By emerging those medals, he became the first Sri Lankan to win an Olympiad gold medal at the international arena.

His research using Nanotechnology as a functional therapeutic drug on 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.

Rakitha's research in 2013, "Evaluating the effect of native ayurvedic development in to western medicine to cure 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. . In year 2012 Rakitha invented a novel way of irrigation water conservation (Simplified And Low Costing Field Capacity Testing Device) and it won a merit Award at Stockholm Junior Water Prize National Competition. Also Rakitha had authored few medical publications during his high school period

Activism

Rakitha first began working with people affected by HIV/AIDS in 2011, when he started visiting slum areas to teach science, maths and English to the children of people living with the disease. In 2012, he formed ideanerd Sri Lanka, which encourages schoolchildren to get involved in scientific research, and promotes an innovation culture. So far, it has helped more than 20,000 students conduct scientific investigations. In 2015, Rakitha co-founded United Youth Consortium to raise awareness of sexual reproductive health issues, and provide support and counselling to families living with HIV. He is working on behalf of the rights of HIV/AIDS positive individuals. Rakitha is collaborating his activities with the help National STD/AIDS Control Programme Sri Lanka, UNAIDS Sri Lanka and some other grassroots initiatives. 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.