Sam Weerahandi

Samaradasa Weerahandi, is the first Sri Lankan American Statistician to be honored as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association. Also known as Sam Weerahandi, he is a former professor last employed in Corporate America by Pfizer, Inc. as a Senior Director till December 2016.

Weerahandi introduced a number of notions, concepts, and methods for statistical analysis of small samples based on exact probability statements, which are referred to as exact statistics. Commonly known as generalized inferences, the new concepts include generalized p-value, generalized confidence intervals, and generalized point estimation. These methods, which are discussed in the two books he wrote, have been found to produce more accurate inferences compared to classical methods based on asymptotic methods when the sample size is small or when large samples tends to be noisy. He used statistical techniques based on these notions to bring Statistical Practice in business management to new highs by developing advanced Business Analytics providing Actionable Insights.

Sam Weerahandi also serves as a spokesperson for the Asian American community. In that role, he has been instrumental in enhancing the Diversity at American Statistical Association (ASA), and at companies that he has worked for. For example, he successfully communicated with the board of directors and the election committee of the ASA to ensure that the first minority president and the minority vise president are elected. His diversity communications with the ASA also lead to the selection of first Asian American editors for the Journal of the American Statistical Association.