Life Story

Sri Lankan-Born Dr. Ashani Weeraratna Appointed First Female Chair of Johns Hopkins Cancer Department

Published

3 months ago

January 28, 2026

Dr. Ashani Weeraratna has risen to the forefront of global cancer research, specialising in melanoma and the effects of aging on cancer. She is the E.V. McCollum Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, and co-leader of the Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.

She also serves as a professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, joining the faculty in 2019. Her research focuses on the tumour microenvironment—the normal cells and structures surrounding a tumour—and its influence on metastasis and therapy resistance.

She was among the first to study how the aging microenvironment affects melanoma progression and treatment responses, examining biophysical changes that impact tumour and immune cell migration. Her work has revealed age-related differences in responses to targeted therapy and immunotherapy, insights that may inform future clinical practice.

Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Lesotho, Dr. Weeraratna moved to the United States in 1988 to study biology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Oncology at George Washington University Medical Center.

She currently serves as President of the Society for Melanoma Research and is a passionate mentor for junior faculty, women, and people of colour in STEM. Handpicked by President Joe Biden in 2021, she now chairs the top-ranked cancer department at Johns Hopkins University.

Life Story

18-Year-Old of Sri Lankan Origin Elected to French Municipal Council

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

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Bilaal Lookman, a first-year law student of Sri Lankan origin, has been elected as a municipal councillor in France at the age of 18.

He secured a seat on the city council of Guyancourt, located on the outskirts of Paris, after contesting in the recent municipal elections—where he also cast his vote for the first time.

Born in November 2007 to a family with roots in Mannar and Jaffna, Lookman is among the youngest elected officials in France.

He developed an early interest in public affairs, gaining experience through internships in the offices of a Member of Parliament, a former Minister of Education, and the mayor of his town during his mid-teens.

Lookman has also engaged with senior political figures and diplomats, while actively participating in community service from a young age through local youth councils and volunteer work with a food-aid organisation.

Life Story

Sri Lanka’s Asha de Vos honoured at UN General Assembly

Published

4 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Sri Lankan marine biologist Dr. Asha de Vos’s portrait and words were featured at the opening of the UN General Assembly for International Women’s Day and CSW70, celebrating women who break barriers. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra has hailed her message as a powerful call to empower women to challenge limits, shape science, and bring pride to the nation.

Life Story

Taavi Samaraweera wins gold at world youth table tennis event

Published

3 months ago

January 19, 2026

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Ten-year-old Taavi Samaraweera of Sri Lanka continued his rapid rise in world table tennis by winning the Under-11 title at the World Youth Contender tournament in Bahrain, securing his first international gold medal of 2026.

The top-ranked Under-11 player in the world produced a calm and confident performance in the final, defeating Bahrain’s Yusuf Albanna to clinch the championship.

The victory marks a significant milestone in Samaraweera’s young career and further highlights his emergence as one of the sport’s most promising talents. Despite his age, he has gained international attention for his technical skill, discipline and maturity at the table.