Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC), opened its fully-fledged research lab complex at the Padukka Campus premises recently. The event was graced by Chief Guest Education Minister Professor GL Peiris and Trade Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Guest of Honour.
Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and Principal Advisor to President Lalith Weerathunga were unable to participate due to conflicting schedules but nonetheless conveyed their well wishes.
Dignitaries and delegates in attendance included Chancellor of Moratuwa University and Council Member of SLTC Professor K K Y W Perera, Secretary to the Youth and Sports Anuradha Wijekoon, Rural Roads
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| Chief Guest Education Minister Professor G.L. Peiris addressing the gathering |
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| Trade Minister Bandula
Gunawardena
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and other Infrastructure State Ministry Secretary Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake, Director General Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka Oshada Senanayake, Chairman Sri Lanka Telecom PLC . Rohan Fernando and Chairman Atomic Energy Authority and SLTC Council Member Prof S R D Rosa.
The event coincided with the unveiling of the University crest and the 2025 infrastructure development blueprint of SLTC incorporating all enhancements in progress as well as projected to materialize in the foreseeable future. 10 students were felicitated for outstanding performance in research and innovations, best final year projects and international competition wins while 12 staff awards including Outstanding Research Award, Emerging Young Researcher and STLC President’s Research Award were distributed among members of faculty.
Upon declaring the new facility open, Chief Guest Professor Peiris remarked: “SLTC’s emphasis on research is noteworthy; Universities have two main components – teaching & research. Both are equally important though in the more traditional approach imparting theoretical knowledge is prioritized over hands-on experience. Eng Rubasinghe’s vision to restore this equilibrium by striking a perceptive balance between theory and practical education is commendable and exemplary. SLTC is a trailblazer in that regard.”
Meanwhile Guest of Honor Dr. Gunawardena noted: “Today is a red letter for SLTC as well as the country. Embracing research-based education is bound to yield positive results and we congratulate SLTC for paving the way for it. Hopefully all public and private universities in Sri Lanka will follow suit.”
The first and only of its kind in Sri Lanka, the dedicated research facility aligns with SLTC’s vision and focus to emerge the number one research university in the region; it serves to facilitate and foster research as a natural part of university education.
Spread across an extent of 45,000 sqft, SLTC serves to facilitate extensive collaboration about different research groups to produce and disseminate new knowledge across various disciplines. The complex is designed to be one with nature and ample inspiring, interactive spaces to promote free-thinking, cooperation and entrepreneurship among undergraduates.
The complex features dedicated laboratories and co-working spaces for fields of: Telecommunication, Electrical and Electronics, Power System , Environmental Engineering and Technology, Chemical Science, Food Processing and Engineering, Instrumental , Microbiology and Biotechnology, Internet of Things (IOT), Civil Engineering and hydraulics.
Speaking at the opening, SLTC Founder President/CEO Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe: “We are excited to expose the next generation of graduates in Sri Lanka to world class infrastructure in research & development thereby offering them not merely theoretical knowledge but also hands-on experience across various technological disciplines. We believe this facility will serve to elevate SLTC as the foremost knowledge hub and research university in the whole of South Asia.”
In a short span of time, SLTC has made significant strides in research including publishing the Highest Impact Factor paper in Engineering and Physics 2019, received Presidential award for the highest impact factor publication in Engineering, Architecture, Computer Science and IT in 2019 and being ranked 19th in Sri Lanka in the Webometrics ranking among other accomplishments. Furthermore, five final year students of SLTC won the International Research Paper Competition at World Innovation Expo in Indonesia last year.
-NM
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| Education Minister Prof. G L Peiris opening the Research Lab Complex. Founder President, SLTC CEO Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe and Guest of Honour Trade Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardena look on |
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| Founder President and SLTC CEO Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe in conversation with Trade Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardena |
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