Draft:Anton James
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 | This article may incorporate text from a large language model, which is prohibited in Wikipedia articles. (June 2026) |
Anton James | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sri Lanka |
| Occupations | Chartered Behavioural Psychologist; Chartered Educational Assessor; Chartered Scientist; Certified Behaviour Analyst |
| Organisation | The Tree House International |
| Known for | Special needs education; psychology; autism awareness; Applied Behaviour Analysis; founding The Tree House International; development of behaviour therapy regulation in Sri Lanka |
| Website | https://www.thetreehouseinternational.com/ |
Anton James is a Sri Lankan psychologist and behaviour analyst known for his work in special needs education and autism awareness in South Asia. He is a Chartered Behavioural Psychologist of the Psychological Society of Ireland,[1] a Chartered Scientist recognised by the Science Council of the United Kingdom, and a Chartered Educational Assessor of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors.
James is the founder of The Tree House International in Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, a specialised institution providing education and therapeutic services for children with special educational needs.[2] He is also the founder of the autism awareness charity Merak.
In 2026, James organised Merak 2026, a national autism awareness initiative in Sri Lanka that culminated in the creation of the world's longest sensory board and the achievement of a Guinness World Record. The initiative brought together artists, educational institutions, community organisations, corporate partners, and volunteers to promote autism awareness, inclusion, and community participation.[3][4][5]
Career
[edit]James studied psychology, education, and behaviour analysis in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
He founded The Tree House International in Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, a school providing specialised education and therapeutic services for children with special educational needs. Ceylon Today described the institution as part of a “silent revolution” in special needs education in Sri Lanka through its use of structured teaching methods and evidence based approaches.[6]
Reporting by the Daily Mirror noted that a proportion of students attending the school relocate from overseas, reflecting its regional role in specialised education.[7]
James also founded the autism awareness charity Merak, which conducts public awareness and community engagement initiatives relating to autism in Sri Lanka.
Merak 2026 initiative
[edit]In 2026, Merak launched a national autism awareness initiative known as Merak 2026. The project includes the construction of a sensory wall composed of community created panels designed to raise awareness about autism and sensory processing differences.
The Island reported that the project aims to construct the world's longest sensory wall.[8]
Daily News described the initiative as a nationwide awareness effort using participatory art and sensory installations.[9]
Coverage by Hiru News described Merak 2026 as a national initiative encouraging community participation.[10]
Dinamina and Times24 also reported on the initiative as a national autism awareness effort.[11][12]
An article in the Enabling Education Review published by EENET discussed the initiative within the context of inclusive education and environmental awareness.[13]
Professional initiatives
[edit]James has been involved in initiatives aimed at formalising behaviour therapy services in Sri Lanka. He is the founder of the Behaviour Analysis Registration Board (BARB) of Sri Lanka, which has the mandate to certify behaviour therapists and behaviour analysts in the country. In 2025, a professional registry for behaviour therapists was inaugurated at The Tree House International in the presence of the British High Commissioner.[14]
He has also collaborated with institutions in the Maldives on inclusive education initiatives to introduce behaviour therapy to the Maldives and to advance applied autism research.[15][16][17]
Professional roles and recognition
[edit]James holds professional designations in psychology, education, and behaviour analysis. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and holds Chartered Psychologist status.[18]
He serves on the Professional Advisory Board of the International Behaviour Analysis Organisation and contributes as a Subject Matter Expert in Applied Behaviour Analysis.[19]
He organised the largest national autism awareness event in Sri Lanka through Merak 2026, and one of the largest collaborative autism awareness initiatives in the world, which achieved a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest sensory board.[3][20][21] ```
References
[edit]- ↑ "Member directory listing". Psychological Society of Ireland.
- ↑ "The Tree House International School". Daily Mirror.
- 1 2 "Merak 2026 expands autism awareness drive ahead of Guinness World Record attempt". Hiru News. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- ↑ "Artists for Autism Awareness: Merak 2026 celebrates the power of creative collaboration". The Island. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka sets Guinness World Record for sensory board". Daily Mirror. 19 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka's silent revolution in special needs education". Ceylon Today.
- ↑ "Tree House International School gets new wing". Daily Mirror.
- ↑ "Merak 2026 building the world's longest sensory wall". The Island.
- ↑ "Wall of awareness". Daily News.
- ↑ "Merak 2026 launches Lanka's longest sensory wall". Hiru News.
- ↑ "Merak 2026 national autism awareness initiative". Dinamina.
- ↑ "Merak 2026 a national autism awareness initiative". Times24.
- ↑ "Sensory walls and sea turtles: joining the dots Sri Lanka". EENET.
- ↑ "Inclusive education initiatives". The Morning.
- ↑ "Tree House International signs MOU with Maldives". Ceylon Today.
- ↑ "Inclusive education collaboration". Ministry of Education Maldives.
- ↑ "Autism awareness initiatives coverage". Ras.mv.
- ↑ "British Psychological Society confers the highest honours to a Sri Lankan psychologist". Newswire.
- ↑ "Professional Advisory Board". International Behaviour Analysis Organisation.
- ↑ "Artists for Autism Awareness: Merak 2026 celebrates the power of creative collaboration". The Island. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka sets Guinness World Record for sensory board". Daily Mirror. 19 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
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