- Research featured in a press conference (American Astronomical Society) (2016).
- The Anna and Samuel Pinanski Teaching Prize (Wellesley College) (2014).
- Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar award (The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation) (1996) .
- Brachman Hoffman Fellowship, Wellesley College (1993).
- Finalist for the Morton M. Traum award in Surface Science, American Vacuum Society (1990).
- First prize for presentation at regional American Vacuum Society Conference (1988).
- Onsager Fellowship (declined) (Yale University) (1985).
- Harvard Scholarship (1984).
- John Harvard Scholarship (1983).
- Detur Prize, Harvard University (1982).
- Selected to represent Sri Lanka at Fifth Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (1980).
- Arthur C. Clarke Award (national award, Sri Lanka) (1979).
- Placed first out of 100,000+ students at national high school examination (Sri Lanka) (1979).