Dr Anton James, first Lankan psychologist elected Fellow of PSI

The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) has elected Dr Anton James as a Fellow of the Society, making him the first Sri Lankan psychologist to receive the prestigious honour.

Fellowship is the highest individual distinction awarded by the PSI and is conferred on distinguished psychologists who have demonstrated superior psychological knowledge and made outstanding and sustained contributions to the field.

Dr James said the recognition was particularly significant as Sri Lanka is still in the early stages of developing its own national professional body for psychologists. He was also elected a Fellow of the British Psychological Society two years ago.

“This recognition belongs to the educators, therapists and families in Sri Lanka who strive every day for better neurodevelopmental care, and strengthens my resolve to ensure that every child with special needs has access to world-class, evidence-based intervention,” he said.

Irish Ambassador Kevin Kelly personally congratulated Dr James on the achievement, while President of the Psychological Society of Ireland, Dr Sarah Cassidy, welcomed him to the Fellowship.

“Dr Anton’s extraordinary dedication to behaviour psychology and his transformative impact on special needs education in Sri Lanka embody the exact excellence the PSI Fellowship stands for. His global footprint and clinical leadership enrich our international psychological community,” she said.

Dr James is a neurodevelopmental care expert with more than 20 years of global experience. He is the first Sri Lankan-born Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and holds multiple postgraduate qualifications from the University of Manchester and Penn State University.

As founder of The Tree House International, Sri Lanka’s premier school for children with special needs, and current President of the Behaviour Analysis Registration Board of Sri Lanka, Dr James is also a Subject Matter Expert in Behaviour Therapy and introduced regulated Behaviour Therapy to Sri Lanka.

He is also the only Chartered Behavioural Psychologist and Chartered Educational Assessor in Sri Lanka. Last year, he was awarded Chartered Scientist status by the British Science Council, becoming the first Sri Lankan social scientist to receive the recognition.