Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) concluded its’ 72nd annual sessions in Colombo last week . Established in 1944 SLAAS aims to promote, support and foster scientific endeavor and technological innovation in an ethical, humane, and sustainable manner for the benefit of the people of Sri Lanka. This year the annual sessions were organized under the guidance of the general president of the SLAAS Prof. Manjula Widanapathirana and supported by other members of the SLAAS. National Science Foundation co-organized the event.
The annual sessions this year commenced on 5th December at the BMICH under the patronage of his Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena. Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Susil Premajayantha too was present at this inauguration event.
The theme seminar of the annual sessions was held on 6th at the ICTAD auditorium with the participation of national and international scientists and professionals. Prof. Felicity Callard from Durham University UK, Prof. Saroj Jayasinghe from the faculty of medicine in University of Colombo, Prof. Moti Nissani from Wayne State University, USA, Prof. Ajith de Alwis from COSTI, Prof. Kalinga Tudor Silva from International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Kandy, Dr. Ruwan Weerasinghe from University of Colombo School of Computing, and Prof. Neloufer de Mel from University of Colombo delivered their addresses in the theme seminar.
The theme seminar was followed by the scientific sessions of eight different sections of the SLAAS at the faculty of education premises in the University of Colombo and was held from 7th to 9th December. School Inventors’ Exhibition, a Planetarium Show, Popular lectures, Poster presentations, Panel discussions and many other events had been organized in parallel to the scientific sessions.
Concluding the annual sessions for the year 2016 the annual general meeting of the SLAAS was held on 9th December with the participation of its’ members.
