Advocata Institute honours Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu with inaugural Freedom Award for lifelong service to civic freedom in Sri Lanka

The Advocata Institute recently honored Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu with its inaugural Freedom Award, in recognition of his relentless dedication to promoting freedom and civic life in Sri Lanka. Dr. Saravanamuttu's career began with his strong moral foundations and continued through his academic achievements at the London School of Economics. His contributions have consistently steered the nation towards transparency, accountability, and pluralistic liberal democracy.

The Freedom Award was presented by Dr. Sarath Rajapatirana, the Academic Chair of the Advocata Institute, at the Asia Liberty Forum held in Colombo from September 10-11. Dr. Saravanamuttu returned from the United Kingdom in the 1990s, during a national impeachment crisis, to found the Centre for Policy Alternatives and champion initiatives that protect civil society, ensure free elections, and tackle corruption.

He also played a significant role in establishing Transparency International Sri Lanka (2002) and the Platform for Freedom (2009).

The award ceremony took place during the Asia Liberty Forum, which drew hundreds of delegates from think tanks across Asia. The Advocata Institute's mission is that "economic freedom cannot thrive without a foundation of rule of law, transparent institutions, and protected liberties." Dr. Saravanamuttu's work has aimed to sustain this foundation, enabling markets, business, and citizens to flourish within a stable, trust-based society.

Dr. Saravanamuttu's influence extends beyond borders, as he has collaborated with various international organizations, including the Commonwealth and IMF. Speaking at the ceremony, the Advocata Institute's Chief Executive Officer, Dhananath Fernando, praised Dr. Saravanamuttu as a "scholar, a policy pioneer, and an architect of accountability." He emphasized that the award celebrates Dr. Saravanamuttu's legacy and the Institute's belief that liberty and prosperity must grow together.

The inaugural Freedom Award ceremony celebrated Dr. Saravanamuttu's contributions in the context of the Asia Liberty Forum, underscoring Advocata's commitment to recognizing those who dedicate their lives to protecting and advocating for civic, economic, political, and personal freedom in Sri Lanka. The handcrafted trophy symbolizes Advocata as "our advocate," a secular civic figure standing in defense of liberty, while the open book represents knowledge and wisdom, and the raised torch echoes Liberty, enlightening the world it represents.