Newstalk presenter Dil Wickremasinghe has been given the inaugural Frederick Douglass Award by the Lord Mayor of Dublin. It recognises outstanding contribution to civic life in the city by an immigrant.
The award is part of an annual ceremony since 1989, which has honoured individuals and groups who have made a special contribution to Dublin.
Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn said "This year I have chosen to give Lord Mayor's Awards to three individuals and three groups in the areas of technology, arts, sport, youth, community and social justice".
Other recipients of the Lord Mayor's Award 2014 are Paddy Cosgrave, Ranelagh Arts Festival, Jim Gavin, One Young World Bid Committee and St. Andrew's Resource Centre.
Dil presents 'Global Village' on Newstalk every Saturday, in which she tackles all social justice issues. Her vision is to create an inclusive and equal Ireland where all residents can live a fuller and more authentic life.
Dil has been living in Ireland 14 years and is now a proud Irish citizen. She was born in Rome to Sri Lankan parents and moved there at 12.
At 17 she discovered her love for media, and started working for a national radio station in Colombo. Shortly afterwards she became a regular contributor to TV chat shows.
Dil decided to emigrate and, after a working as a flight attendant in Bahrain, arrived in Dublin in 2000. She started as a kitchen porter and worked her way up.
Dil has served on numerous NGO boards, made representations in the Oireachtas, campaigned for gay and migrant rights and was involved with the Irish Sri Lanka Trust Fund, which raised €4.2 million for survivors of the South Asian Tsunami.
Her ultimate aim is to host a television show featuring her passions - social justice, mental health and stand-up comedy.
