In a ceremony held on, 11th January 2017 at the BMICH in Colombo, the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science(SLAAS) inducted Prof. Preethi Udagama as the president of the organization for the year 2019. Prof. Udagama was ceremonially sworn in by the outgoing president Prof. Chandana Jayarathne. Prof. Udagama is the 78th General President of the Sri LAnka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS).
Prof. Preethi Udagama is currently serving as a senior professor at the Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, University of Colombo. She is a pioneer in Malaria vaccine research in Sri Lanka, and also a played a major role in immunology and Molecular Biology related research and development in Sri Lanka.
Kamini Nirmala Mendis, Sri Lankan Medical parasitologist, recipient President award for science from Government Sri Lanka in 1987 participated as the chief guest of the event and delivered the guest of honor. In her speech Prof. Mendis gave a brief introduction on prof. Preethi Udagama and discussed the challenges lying ahead of him as the president for the upcoming year.
In the presidential address Prof. Preethi Udagama described the importance of Biotechnology in current research and development sectors and discussed how we as a country can get the maximum benefit through Biotechnology related research.
Prof. Janitha A Liyanage the president elect delivered the vote of thank to conclude the ceremony. Past presidents of the SLAAS, members of the current SLAAS council, committee members, and other invited guests participated the event.
