Senior Professor Lal Mervin Dharmasiri, and Head of the Department of Geography of the University of Kelaniya, received a Distinguished Alumni award which is offered to prestigious academicians, from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

He was offered this award for his significant achievements in his field and outstading contribution to the promotion of understanding, goodwill and friendship between India and Sri Lanka within the past period. This ceremony was held under the patronage of H.E. Gopal Bagalay, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka.  The award was offered to Professor Lal Mervin Dharmasiri by Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, a member of Parliament of the Lok Sabha - India, and the President of ICCR on the 27^th of Mach 2023, at the Cinnamon Grand hotel -Colombo.

Professor Dharmasiri has implemented several collaborative academic and cultural programmes in association with the University of Kelaniya and Indian Universities and a number of other non-governmental institutions. Savithribai Phule Pune University, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar University – Solapur, and Goa University took prominence among them.