Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Amaratunga

February 28, 2012 - Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux today expressed congratulations to longtime professor Dr. Laxman (“Lucky”) Amaratunga, distinguished recipient of the 2012 Canadian Mineral Processors Society Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award was presented at the Awards Gala of the 44th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mineral Processors in Ottawa.  The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes demonstrated excellence in the science of mineral beneficiation and ongoing contribution to the Canadian Mineral Processors (CMP). 

In announcing the award, the CMP cites Dr. Amaratunga for his “outstanding contributions to the Canadian mining, metallurgical and processing industries in the areas of education, research in management of mine waste, environmental technology transfer, and the CMP and MetSoc Societies of CIM (The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum).” 

“Dr. Lucky has long been recognized among his peers as a leading figure in the field of metallurgy and mining chemistry.  We congratulate him on this latest honour.  It is indeed a fitting tribute to his life’s work,” said President Giroux. 

Dr. Amaratunga has been with Laurentian since 1984, and has carried out important research in the area of tailings management, backfill and environmental stewardship. He has received several awards through throughout his long career:  in 2007 he received the Teck Cominco Environmental Award for his research activities in processing, utilizing and recycling of waste materials in the mining cycle. In 2003, “Dr. Lucky” was recognized with Laurentian University’s Teaching Excellence Award and in 2011, MetSoc and CMP held a luncheon in his honour at the Conference of Metallurgists.

“I am deeply honoured by this award, and very touched by the tribute from my many colleagues in the CMP,” said Dr. Amaratunga, who was caught off guard when the award was announced during a banquet in the presence of nearly 500 delegates who gave him a standing ovation at the CMP Awards Gala. “Honestly, the CMP kept this a total surprise to me and my wife. I am so happy to be acknowledged by those in my field, and also by my university.”

Dr. Amaratunga continues to lecture at Laurentian, and to pursue his research and on a nanotechnology gold extraction process.