A Sri Lankan won the Nobel prize for naturalists Source:Ceylon A Sri Lankan won the Nobel prize for naturalists. Congratulations Rohan Pethiyagoda. The Linnean Medal was awarded at a London ceremony to the first Sri Lankan in its history: since 1888, the medal has been given annually to a botanist or a zoologist, or to one of each, in the same year. Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox! ...