Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) concluded its’ 73rd 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 Eng. V. Regunathan and supported by other members of the SLAAS. National Science Foundation co-organized the event with the Open University of Sri Lanka.
The annual sessions this year commenced on 4th December at the BMICH premises. Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama participatred the event as the chief guest and Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Susil Premajayantha too was present.
The theme seminar of the annual sessions was held on 5th in the Galadari Hotel with the participation of national and international scientists and professionals. Professor Monte Cassim, former President of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu, Japan, Professor Sudha Ram from University of Arizona, Tucson, USA, Dr Ajith Pasqual, from University of Moratuwa, Professor Morihiro Maeda, Okayama University, Japan, Dr Asha de Vos who is a world renowned Sri Lankan marine biologist, Dr U K G K Padmalal from the Open University of Sri Lanka, and Engineer Kandiah Sivayogaiswaran from Prototype Operations, UK delivered their addresses in the theme seminar. This year the theme of this annual seminar was “Engagement of Scientists in the Economic Development of Sri Lanka.
The theme seminar was followed by the scientific sessions of eight different sections of the SLAAS at the Open University premises at Nawala, Rajagiriya. During these sessions scientists from each section presented their research findings from their research work.
One of the main attraction of this five-day event was the All Island School Inventors’ Competition cum Exhibition, in which inventors from schools all around the island exhibited their inventions. Around 180 exhibits had been selected for the final exhibition from n initial pool of more than 1000 new inventions. At the end of the exhibition the winning inventions were awarded with Gold, Sliver and Bronze medals and merit awards.
Apart from those 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 2017 the annual general meeting of the SLAAS was held on 7th December with the participation of its’ members. During the general meeting Prof. Chandana Jayarathna was elected as the general president for the year 2018 and Prof Preethi Udagama was elected as the president elect for the year 2019.
