• Recognition & Awards
• Expressions Spring 2026

Honouring a Global Dental Education Leader

Professor Lakshman Samaranayake Receives Honorary Doctorate in Thailand

Professor Lakshman Samaranayake (left) and Professor Dr Surakiart Sathirathai, Chairman of the Chulalongkorn University Council (right)

The lights of the Chulalongkorn University Auditorium shone brighter on 29 September 2025, as one of the world’s leading dental educators and scholars, Professor Lakshman Samaranayake, Emeritus Professor and former Dean of the HKU Faculty of Dentistry, was conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Dental Science.

The distinction, awarded for the 2024 Academic Year of Chulalongkorn University, is one of the highest honours in Thai higher education. The ceremony was graciously presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, The Princess Royal, who officiated on behalf of His Majesty the King of Thailand. Against this distinguished backdrop, the honour carried not only academic significance, but also deep symbolic recognition of Professor Samaranayake’s lifelong commitment to advancing oral health worldwide.

For the HKU Faculty of Dentistry, the award is a moment of pride and reflection. As a former Dean, Professor Samaranayake played a key role in strengthening the Faculty’s international reputation and nurturing its culture of academic excellence and innovation. His work has spanned dental education, research, knowledge exchange and clinical practice, highlighting how dentistry is taught, how oral diseases are understood and how patient care is delivered across different disciplines. The Honorary Doctorate in Dental Science from Chulalongkorn University acknowledges not just a distinguished career, but also a sustained contribution to the development of global oral healthcare. It recognises the impact of scholarly leadership that crosses borders—shaping curricula refinement, guiding young researchers, and helping capacity building in dental institutions across Asia and beyond.

This recognition also highlights the strong academic ties between leading dental schools in Hong Kong, China and Thailand, and their shared commitment to improving oral healthcare outcomes in the region. In honouring Professor Samaranayake, Chulalongkorn University pays tribute to a career that embodies scientific rigour, collaborative teamwork and professional service to the community. The HKU Faculty of Dentistry warmly congratulates Professor Samaranayake on this remarkable achievement. His Honorary Doctorate stands as a testament to the power of visionary leadership in dentistry—and as an inspiration to future generations of oral healthcare professionals who seek not only to excel in their field, but to elevate oral health on a global scale.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (left) conferred honorary doctoral degree to Professor Lakshman Samaranayake