Jan – March 2020 Inside this issue Vol 15 no 1 General President’s Message .... 1 Annual Sessions 2019 .................. 2 Council 2020 ................................... 3 Section A ............................................. 4 Section B ............................................. 4 Section C ............................................. 5 Section D ............................................ 5 Section E2 .......................................... 6 Section E3 .......................................... 6 General Research Committee ... 6 Environment Committee ............ 7 SLAAS NEWS Committee for Popularization Newsletter of the Sri Lanka Association for the of Science .......................................... 8 Advancement of Science The SLAAS Tower ......................... 9 General President’s Message Special points of interest Scientists devote their careers and sacrifice their life towards serving humankind and to improve • Eco-friendly Pest Control the quality of life. Looking back at the last 100 years of human history, we have come a long way Products where science has developed exponentially beyond boundaries. The impact of science has infiltrat- ed society through Sri Lankan Scientists. What better organization to lead this endeavour than the • Industrial Pollution and Re- medial Measures Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science – our own SLAAS where we have eight sec- tions plus committees covering all aspects of life as medical, social, economic, environmental and • Disruptive Thinking for Inno- applied sciences. vation • The Emergence of a Geospa- Improving the quality of life is a continuous process and requires the participation of multiple sec- tial Cloud tors, agencies and processes that must be transparent while embracing principles of equity. In Sri Lanka, we have an era under the present government ready to adopt innovative designs, principles and applications. Scientists have an added responsibility of advising governments and agencies to engage in ethical practices in science – emphasizing that scientists also need to work on monitoring, providing feedback and advocating policy changes where necessary. We have recognized the need for new policies on areas such as agriculture and energy to reduce climate change, ultimately halting the compounding effects on human health. The solutions provid- ed through novel innovations and adaptation of traditional knowledge should have the capacity for sustainable integration to protect the island’s rich biodiversity. It is our responsibility to use the limited resources that we have prudently, to leave a better world for our future generations. It is going to be hard, but hard does not mean it is impossible! I invite you to join hands with SLAAS for the development of science in our country for the wellbe- ing of society. Along with the theme of SLAAS 2020, “Science for Quality Life”, we have lined up goals to be achieved, some of which are, to i) Popularize Science among School Children and General Public, ii) Facilitate STEM Education, iii) Engage in National Research and Development and iv) Involve in Environmental activities. Prof Janitha A Liyanage General President of SLAAS Finally, I wish to pay homage to the following people who have shaped my life by their opinions: 2020 General Colin Powell - "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, Senior Professor in Chemistry and learning from failure" University of Kelaniya Conrad Hilton - "Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They Vice Chairperson, make mistakes, but they don't quit" University Grants Commission Thomas Jefferson - "I find that the harder I work the more luck I seem to have" Annual Sessions of SLAAS 2019 The 75th Annual Sessions of SLAAS was inaugurated on 8th December 2019 amidst a distinguished gathering and continued till 13th December at the University of Colombo. Prof. Sriyal Malik Peiris, Tam Wah-Ching Professor in Medical Science, Chair of Virology, The University of Hong Kong served as the Chief Guest, Dr. Lawrence Banks, Director General, ICGEB, Italy, served as Guest of Hon- or while State Minister of Science and Innovation Hon Thilanga Sumathipala graced the occasion. The Vidyabhiwardhana Keerthi Award was presented to five Senior Scientists for yeomen service to promote and advance science in Sri Lanka. 2 "Science for Quality Life" Council 2020 Name Position Name Position Prof. Janitha Liyanage General President Prof. Jayantha Welihinda Elected Member Prof. Sumedha Jayanetti General President - Elect Dr. R.D. Guneratne Elected Member Prof. Preethi V Udagama Immediate Past General President Dr. M.N. Kaumal Elected Member Dr. A.M. Mubarak Chairperson, BOT Dr. Kumudu Senevirathne Elected Member Dr. Chinthaka De Silva General Secretary Dr. Inoka Sandanayake President, Section A Dr. Rushan Abeygunawardana General Secretary Dr. R.M. Dharmadasa President, Section B Dr. W.A.P.J. Premaratne Treasurer Dr. Shiromi Karunaratne President, Section C Dr. Buddhika Gunawardana Asst. Treasurer Dr. Helani Munasinghe President, Section D Dr. Theshini Perera Editor Dr. A.L.A.K. Ranaweera President, Section E1 Dr. Sajani Dias Asst. Editor Dr. Dilrukshi Wijayarathna President, Section E2 Prof. R.D. Wijesekera Secretary, Int. Relations Dr. Chathura Rajapaksha President, Section E3 Prof. K.P.S. Chandana Jayaratne Elected Member Dr. Wasanthi Wickramasinghe President, Section F Dr. Jayantha Wattavidanage Elected Member Prof. B.C.L. Athapattu Chairperson , GRC Prof. Mahesh Jayaweera Elected Member Dr. Nilanthi Wijewardena Chairperson, EC Dr. Udeni Nawagamuwa Elected Member Dr. N.D. Amal Wageesha Chairman, CPS Prof. Chamari Hettiarachchi Elected Member Induction of General President 2020 Prof. Janitha A Liyanage, Senior Professor in Chemistry and Vice Chairperson of the University Grants Commission was inducted as the 79th General President of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science at an elaborate ceremony held on 10th January 2020 at Hotel Ramada, Colombo. A Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry as well as of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, she is also a Visit- ing Senior Professor of the College of Chemical Sciences of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon. "Science for Quality Life" 3 Section A Several dental and oral health screening control" for around 30 elderly females of programmes were conducted by Dr. Nilan- the Moratuwa Elders Group. tha Rathnayake from January to March A public lecture and awareness pro- 2020 for children at weighing centers at gramme on “Dental Health” for members Wattegedara, Pamunuwa and Gidigamu- and their family members of the Malwatta wa as well as at Rainbow Pre-school, Mee- Road Welfare Society, Hokandara South goda. was conducted on 23rd February 2020 by A health-related awareness talk was deliv- Dr. Nilantha Rathnayake, Exhibits under ered by Dr. Hemali Jayakody on the topic, personalized medicine category for the “Update and health measures to prevent INNOTECH 2020 Exhibition were show- possible novel Coronavirus spread in the cased by Section A in collaboration with community”, at the Regional Director the Institute of Indigenous Medicine. The Health Services office on 1st February activity was coordinated by Dr. Kaumadi 2020. The audience comprised of around Karunagoda. 30 doctors and other health care workers in the Colombo district. Dr. Nilantha Rathnayake served as the resource person for a radio programme on “Scientific basis of dental myths” which was broadcast by Vidu Esa of SLBC on 6th March 2020. Dr. Shreenika Weliange delivered a talk on “Diabetes in the elderly: prevention and Section B Workshop on Introduction of Eco-friendly Pest Control Products A workshop on “Introduction of eco-friendly pest control products” organized by SLAAS Sec- tion B was held on 11th February 2020 at Provincial Director Office, Department of Agricul- ture, Gampaha. The workshop consisted of lectures and demonstration of eco-friendly pest control products. Fifty extension officers of the Department of Agriculture successfully com- pleted this workshop and Dr. R.M. Dharmadasa contributed as a resource person. Seminar on Industrial Pollution and Remedial Measures A seminar on “Industrial Pollution and Remedial Measures” orga- nized by SLAAS section B was held on 6th March 2020 at Sumana Balika Vidyalaya, Ratnapura. Around three hundred GCE Ad- vanced Level school children representing R/ Ferguson High School, R/ Sivali Central College, R/ St. Aloysius College and R/ Sumana Balika Vidyalaya participated while Dr. G.G.T. Chan- drathilake served as the resource person. Workshop on “Patent and Innovations Related to Agriculture and Forestry” A workshop on “Patent and Innovations Related to Agriculture and Forestry” organized by SLAAS Section B which was scheduled to be held in March was postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 4 "Science for Quality Life" Section C Guest Lecture at the Open University of Sri Lanka A guest lecture on “Disruptive thinking for innovation” organized by Section C was held at the Open University of Sri Lanka on 7th February 2020 with the participation of staff, undergraduate and post graduate students. It was conducted by Dr. Chulantha Kulasekara, Senior Lec- turer, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineer- ing, Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka Institute of Infor- mation Technology. The lecture, which was conducted through activities and discussion, highlighted how peo- ple who think differently can change the world