Asoka Dias Wins Science Communication Award

The premier scientific body in the country, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), has adjudged Asoka Dias the winner of this year’s SLAAS Media Awards.

SLAAS annually presents awards for the popularization of science among the general public through print and electronic media. This year, at the annual sessions of SLAAS, held under the theme of “Effective Science Communication for an Informed Society”, Asoka was awarded this prestigious accolade for his contribution for the Sinhala language television programme, Pathikada on News First, Sirasa TV. The Pathikada programme has made a concerted effort to represent and promote scientific thought in diverse disciplines including medicine, agriculture, engineering, computer and social sciences.

Asoka Dias started his career as a science communicator and later moved on to electronic media. He is a journalist and host of current affairs programmes with more than 30 years of experience in print, electronic and digital media. Currently he serves as Director MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd and MBC Networks (Pvt) Ltd, collectively known as Sirasa Media Network. He has Master’s Degrees in Mass Communication and Business Administration. Asoka is the Country Representative for the Manila-based, Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), that serves as a regional research hub for media and communication issues.

The SLAAS Media Awards were presented at the ceremonial inauguration of the 78th annual sessions of SLAAS, held on Sunday, 11 December 2022, at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.