University of Peradeniya News Volume 2, No. 10, October - December 2005 A quarterly update of important events of the University of Peradeniya University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka. In this Issue General Convocation - 2005 02 Third Country Training Programme 04 Industry Day - 2005 05 National Awards 06 Peradeniya University Overall Champions - 2005 University of Peradeniya made a clean sweep by winning the men’s and women’s championships and also the Overall Championship at the annual Inter-University Championship 2005 organized by the Sri Lanka University Sports Association and held at various venues over a period of two months. It was an excellent performance by the undergrades from Peradeniya University who first won the men’s Championship title with 139 points and in second place was University of Moratuwa with 110 points and in third place was University of Colombo with 104 points. University of Peradeniya won the overall title aggregating 222 points having a clear 43 points over the second placed University of Colombo who had 179 points. University of Kelaniya finished third with 146 points. University of Peradeniya’s title wins in the championship for women were badminton, chess, hockey, table tennis. In the competition for men they won the championship titles in the sports badminton, carom, chess, road race, hockey 9 (jointly with Moratuwa) rugby, weight lifting and wrestling. University of Peradeniya News Quarterly Newsletter of the University of Peradeniya Co-ordinator : H.A. Gamage (Statistical Officer Gr. I) Tel : 081-2392433 Ext. 2433 E-mail : [email protected] Typesetting : Rohana Rajapakshe University of Peradeniya News appears on Website : http://www.pdn.ac.lk/news/newsletter.html General Convocation 2005 – 21st December 2005 The General Convocation of the University of Peradeniya held on 21st December 2005 at the University Gymnasium where 2015 Bachelor Degrees 435 Postgraduate Degrees conferred upon the recipients. The senate of the University of Peradeniya approved the conferment of Honourary DSc Degrees to three nationality and internationality recognized individuals for their contribution to education and national development. Dr. ANS Kulasinghe, Prof. Arif Bongso and Prof. L.P. Samaranayke were awarded those honourary degrees in recognition of their contributions to the field of Engineering, Medical, Science and Dentistry respectively. Faculty of Agriculture Notices & Announcements Measures CIC Agribusinesses has donated 35 lab coats to the Department of Food Science & Technology to be used by the first year students during practical sessions in the student laboratory. The National CDM Study Centre organized a workshop on 23rd November 2005 for Plantation Agricultural Sector of how to develop CDM projects for carbon Trading. A short course on Environmental Toxicology & Computational Modeling was held during 3rd – 4th December 2005 at the PGIA. Three Faculty members from Lincoln University contributed this workshop as resource persons. An IT’ short course for the National Information Management Group of Crop Wild Relatives Project was held from 12th – 15 th December 2005 at the PGIA. Condolence With the deep sorrow, the Faculty of Agriculture reports the demise of Prof. A.S.B. Rajaguru, who was served as the Head of the Department of Animal Science. May he rest in peace! “Prathiba” a book on students’ writing talents was launched on 9/9/2005. Faculty of Arts Fellowship Awards Dr. Nalini Hennayake, Department of Geography This prestigious fellowship programme is the first has been awarded a fellowship under the South region-wide programme that seeks to integrate Asia Regional Fellowship programme of the Social research skills and teaching abilities, helping to Science Research Council. (New York) ensure the intellectual vitality of the next generation. The selection committee was very impressed with the quality and number of applicants received from The duration of this fellowship will be January to all over South Asia and unanimously agreed that April 2006. She attended an international training her proposal Competing Ideologies of and research workshop, a necessary aspect in Development: A Legacy of 1956 Politics met the fulfilling the terms of the fellowship. [19-23 highest international standards. December 2005] University of Peradeniya News Vol. 02 No. 10 Page 2 Book Launching Programme The Faculty of Arts organized a workshop on “Advanced Research Methodologies in Professor. D.P.M. Weerakkody, Professor of Social Science and Humanities” on 30th and 31st Classical Languages launched his book “Plato December, 2005 at the Faculty of Arts. Republic” (Translation) on 25th October 2005 at the Faculty Seminar Room. The following Academic This workshop was meant for junior staff members Staff members delivered speeches on the and the Postgraduate students of the Faculty of publication. Arts. Professor Kapila Goonasekere, Vice Chancellor of this University participated as the Professor M.O.A. De Zoysa Chief Guest and Prof Ranjith Amarasinghe, Dean/ Professor Merlin Peris Arts chaired the session. Senior professors of the Dr. D.D. Mallikarachchi Faculty shared their knowledge at this workshop. Dr. Leela Kobbekaduwa Miss Ruwantha Kulatunga Large number of academic members and students The Society for the Integration of Science of the Faculty of Arts participated at this ocassion. and Human Values of the Department of Pali & Buddhist Studies, Faculty of Arts conducted its 03rd The Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies dialogue on “Sciencetific Implication on some started a tri-monthly Newsletter to create and key Buddhist concepts”. Prof. Asanga maintain beyond classroom level friendly academic Thilakarathne, Mr . Patali Champika Ranawaka and social environment for the teachers and and Dr. A.G. Buthpitiya were the key speakers at students of the Department. This will be an avenue this Dialog held on 17th December 2005 at the for a meaningful exchange of views and opinions Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist in the subject area of Pali and Buddhist Studies. Studies. Seminars/Workshops The Department of Sociology has organized its staff seminars on “Civil Society Organizations and the Displaced People in Sri Lanka and India” on 30th November 2005 at the Faculty Seminar Room. Prof. Abhijit Dasgupta of the Department of Sociology, University of Delhi delivered the key lecture where Prof. K. T .Silva, Head of the Department of Sociology chaired the session. Fifteen scholars from Philosophy Forum of Germany headed by its Director, Petor Volbrecht visited the University of Peradeniya to participate in the Seminar on “Buddhist Thought” organized by the Department of Pali & Buddhist Studies. Prof. P.D Premasiri, Dr. G.A Somarathne, Head of the Department of Pali & Buddhist Studies. Mr. Sumana Rathnayake, Prof. P .B Meegaskumbura and Ven. Soorukkulame Premarathne were the key presenters of this three day seminar held from 30th October to 04th November at the Faculty of Arts. University of Peradeniya News Vol. 02 No. 10 Page 3 Faculty of Dental Sciences Third Country Training Programme The Faculty of Dental Sciences in collaboration with Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) successfully conducted the Third Country Training Programme in Oral Health from 03rd October, 2005 to 03rd November, 2005 at the Faculty of Dental Sciences. This was the third programme of the 05 year project. This programme was identified for the Dental Surgeons from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Pakistan, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam and Maldives. 12 foreign and 04 local participants followed the training programme in the Divisions of Orthodontics, Paedodontics, Periodontology, Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery, Restorative Dentistry and Basic Sciences. The Opening Ceremony was held on 03rd of October, 2005 at the Faculty of Dental Sciences and the closing ceremony was held on the 04th November, 2005 at the Hotel Mahaweli Reach in the presence of the Resident Representative of JICA Colombo Office, His Excellency the Ambassador of Myanmar, His Excellency the High Commissioner of Maldives, 1st Secretary of Nepal High Commission, Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Staff Members and the Non academic Staff members of the Faculty. Certificates were awarded for the candidates and for the Course Co-ordinators at this ceremony. Mr. T Ueshima, 01 st Secretary to Nepal Embassy and JICA Representative,& Course Co-ordinator is lightes the Oil Lamp. Prof. Kapila Goonasekere, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya and Prof.R.L.Wijeyeweera, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Science are also in the picture. University of Peradeniya News Vol. 02 No. 10 Page 4 Faculty of Engineering Industry Day 2005 The Faculty of Engineering held its Industry Day and development. The exhibition, which had 21 from 30 September to 01 October 2005 and it stalls, where various industrial organizations used was great success. The Chief Guest for the event to display their products and services was an was Mr. Rajan Yatawara, Chairman of the Hayleys attractive feature. Group of Companies. This is the first time that this annual event was held over two days. The variety entertainment show which was held on the first day was an event completely organized Mock interviews, Seminars, Group Discussions, by the students and it gave them a very good Project presentations, Workshops etc. were some opportunity to bring out their artistic talents. of the activities organized for the benefit of the Engineering