Dilmah-initiated Merrill J. Fernando Innovation Awards 2021 unveils winner

ITI Additional Director General R&D Prof. Ilmi Hewajulige, Environment Ministry Operational Focal Point Biodiversity Secretariat Pathma Abeykoon representing panel of judges with Dilmah CEO Dilhan C. Fernando, award winners and Dilmah team

Ecovation 2021 winner: Team comprising Prof. Rangika Halwatura and Himahansi Galkanda affiliated to University of Moratuwa, who created an eco-friendly wall-putty out of waste alum sludge 

The Merrill J. Fernando Innovation Awards – Ecovation – first took place in 2016, seeks to encourage practical or scientific innovation amongst youth, women and men in academia or any field, in designing creative and impactful solutions to our most urgent ecological issues. 

The award ceremony for Ecovation 2021 was held recently at the Dilmah Tea head office premises. This included an exhibition showcasing the top 10 eco-innovations from the competition with the aim of motivating the innovators and inspiring patrons to think of sustainable and eco-friendly solutions to the problems we face today. 

Representing the eminent panel of judges, the event was graced by ITI Additional Director General R&D Prof. Ilmi Hewajulige and Environment Ministry Operational Focal Point Biodiversity Secretariat Pathma Abeykoon while Biodiversity Sri Lanka Advisor Shiranee Yasaratne joined the festivities via Zoom. Other members of the esteemed panel included University of Moratuwa Faculty of Graduate Studies Dean Prof. Ajith de Alwis, SAKS Global CEO Jeevan Gnanam and Ananta Sustainables Founder Savera Weesainghe.

Understanding that the traditional ‘take-make-dispose’ culture has had devastating impacts on people and planet, eco-innovations ideally address these environmental and social problems, among others and upgrade the means used to tackle these issues. Ecovation Awards 2021 sort out eco-innovative ideas and prototypes under the theme ‘Circular Economy for a Sustainable Future’ and focused specifically on sustainable packaging, resource efficiency and waste management. The winner of Ecovation 2021 was the innovator-duo Prof. Rangika Halwatura and Himahansi Galkanda, affiliated to the University of Moratuwa, who created an eco-friendly wall-putty out of waste alum sludge. In addition to being honoured as winner of Ecovation 2021 with the Merrill J. Fernando Innovation Awards 2021 trophy, the duo received a cash prize of Rs.750,000. 

 
In second place was Sudhara Jayakody, also affiliated to the University of Moratuwa, with his Eco Crumbler – ‘earthworm pet home’ – a solution devised to help city dwellers deal with accumulating household food waste. Chosen in the third place was Gamini Priyantha Alexander, from Nature’s Paper (Pvt.) Ltd, a formidable eco-entrepreneur, who has been creating eco-friendly packaging alternatives out of paper waste and agricultural waste as well as invasive plants. The second place and third place winners received cash prizes of Rs.500,000 and Rs.250,000, respectively. The remaining top 10 were also awarded with cash prizes of Rs.50,000 each towards their continuing eco innovation journey.

The Merrill J. Fernando Innovation Awards aspires eco-innovators to showcase their product and acts as space for knowledge-sharing and growth. Going beyond the boundaries of a traditional competition, Ecovation seeks to work closely with the winning innovators to adapt and scale-up to suit the existing market needs. Furthermore, the winning innovators will be provided legal support to protect the intellectual property rights of the respective eco-innovators.