The Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS) held its highly anticipated Industry 5.0 Open Forum on October 10th, 2024, at TRACE Expert City in Colombo. This event, themed “Industry 5.0 Igniting Economic Resurgence of Sri Lanka,” brought together a distinguished panel of experts, scientists, industry professionals, and investors to explore the transformative potential of Industry 5.0, where human- machine collaboration, cognitive systems, and sustainability drive economic growth.
The forum opened with a series of sessions featuring prominent speakers who shared their knowledge on the future of innovation and its applications across diverse industries. Key speakers at the event included:
- Dr. Nishan Dharmaweera, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
- Mr. Sampath Thrimavitharana, Chief Human Resources Officer, Surge Global.
- Dr. Harsha Subasinghe, President and CEO, CodeGen.
- Dr. Sampath Edirisinghe, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
- Mr. Dhanujie Jayapala, General Manager, Environment Sustainability, MAS Capital Pvt. Ltd.
- Prof. Buddhika Jayasekara, Professor, University of Moratuwa.
- Dr. Ruchira N. Wijesena, Senior Lecturer, University of Moratuwa.
The discussions emphasized how Industry 5.0 can spark economic recovery through innovative technologies, new business models, and sustainable practices. The event was also a platform for attendees to network, collaborate, and exchange ideas to propel Sri Lanka’s economic resurgence forward.
3MT Competition Finals
One of the key highlights of the forum was the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition final round, which showcased the talents of postgraduate students in presenting their research. The finalists were:
- S.A.S.M. Samarasinghe
- J.T. Kotelawala
- I.H.M.I.S. Herath
- T.G.C. Madusanka
- L.G. Edirisinghe
- T.P.S.S. Perera
- V.M.B.K.T. Malwanage
- J.C. Kalinga
- T.L.M. Meetiyagoda
- N.A. Wichramasinghe
Congratulations to the winners of the 3MT competition:
- 1st Place: J.C. Kalinga
- 2nd Place: J.T. Kotelawala
- 3rd Place: L.G. Edirisinghe
SciCapture International Science Photo Contest 2024
The forum also celebrated the announcement of the winners of the SciCapture International Science Photo Contest 2024. SLAYS given special thanks to CameraLK Store for their generous sponsorship, which made this competition a reality.
Conference Partners and Sponsors
The SLAYS Open Forum 2024 was organized by the Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists, with the support of NASTECH and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The event’s Silver Sponsors included CodeGen and MAS Holdings, while Virtusa served as a Bronze Sponsor.
With the SLAYS Open Forum 2024 now behind us, we look forward to seeing how these ideas and collaborations will contribute to Sri Lanka’s innovation landscape and economic resurgence in the coming years
Sri Lankan Scientist is proud to have reported on such an important event, contributing to the growth and dissemination of scientific knowledge and fostering collaborations for a brighter future.
For more updates on future SLAYS events and other key developments in the world of science, stay tuned to our website!
Photography by – Sasanka Sinhasiri
