The Inauguration Ceremony of the 50th Annual Sessions and 80th Anniversary celebrations of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon was held on the 27th of June 2021 via Zoom, with a limited physical participation at the Adamantane House, of the members of the head table, four awardees and two technical experts. Prof. Kapila C. K. Perera, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and the Presidential address was delivered by Prof. Sagarika Ekanayake on the theme “Sustainable Development through Chemical Sciences”. One of the main highlights of the event was the launching of the book, “Our Voyage through the Years”, which showcases the history of eighty glorious years of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon. This was also followed by an awards ceremony, where Dr. C L de Silva Gold Medal Award was bestowed upon Prof. Lalith Jayasinghe, who also delivered a lecture titled “Search for Bioactive Compounds from Sri Lankan Medicinal Plants and Endophytic Fungi”. Professor M. U. S. Sultanbawa Award for Research in Chemistry was awarded to Prof. Pamoda B. Ratnaweera, while Dr. Sameera R. Gunatilake won the first ever CCS Research Award. In addition, Mr. K.R. Dayananda and Mr. M.R.M. Haniffa were honored with Distinguished Service Awards, and Mr. W. R. R. Perera was duly recognized with a Long Service Award. Recipients of scholarships, prizes and awards of the BSc Hons in Chemical Science and Graduateship in Chemistry programmes were also felicitated, along with the winners of the National Chemistry Olympiad Competition.
