Newsletter of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science www.slaas.lk Vol. 14 No. 3 Sept. - Dec. 2019 75th Annual Sessions 08, 9, 10, 12 &13 December, 2019 Ceremonial Inauguration Scientific Sessions Date: 8th December, 2019 at 1.15 p.m. Date: 10, 12 & 13 December, 2019 Venue: UCSC Auditorium, University of Colombo Venue: University of Colombo All Island School Inventors’ SLAAS Annual Dinner Competition cum Exhibition Date: 9th December 2019 Date: 10 - 12 & 13 December 2019 Venue: Hilton Hotel, Colombo Venue: University of Colombo Annual GeneralTheme Meeting: Seminar 13th December 2019 2019 at 11.15 a.m. Date: Date: 9th December 2019 Venue: UCSC Auditorium, University of Colombo Theme: “Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future” Keynote address: Bioinformatics Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future The Sri Lankan Genome Prof. Vajira Dissanayake Dr. Lawrence Banks Director-General Medical Geneticist | Chair & Senior Professor of Anatomy | Di- International Center for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology rector, Human Genetics Unit | Chair, Specialty Board in (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy Biomedical Informatics University of Colombo Medical Biotechnology Is Liquid Biopsy Ready for Personalized Medicine in Cancers? Marine Biotechnology Prof. Chamindie Punyadeera Marine Biomaterials: Research, Innovation and Biomedical Ap- Head, Saliva and Liquid Biopsy Translational Research Team, plication Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovations, The School of Prof. Mahanama de Zoysa Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Health, College of Veterinary Brisbane, Australia Medicine, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea. Agricultural Biotechnology Biotechnology for Crop Improvement in Sri Lanka: Current Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Status and Future Directions Harnessing the Power of Genes: Establishment of Genelabs Dr. Pradeepa Bandaranayake Dr. Chandanamali Punchihewa Director/ Senior Lecturer Founder & Chief Scientist Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Agriculture Genelabs Medical University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Nawala Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka. Industrial Biotechnology Violet Biotechnology White Biotechnology for going Circular! Just genes: Ethical, Legal and Social Questions for Biotechnol- Prof. Ajith de Alwis ogy Senior Professor Prof. Dianne Nicol Department of Chemical & Process Engineering , University of Director, Centre for Law and Genetics, University of Tasmania Moratuwa, Sri Lanka Australia. Registration fee & further details visit - www.slaas.lk SLAAS "Vidya Mandiraya" 120/10, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07. Tel: 2688740/2691681 Fax: (+94) 0112691681 Edited by Prof. Nelum Deshapriya & Dr. Sajani Dias; Designed by Kasun Jayasinghe; Printed by Sarangi Printers Sectional Activities Section A on 08.09.2019 at the Renuka Early childhood develop- A training program for inmates of Sri Sambodhi Homes, ment centre, Homagama for 120 participants. The activ- Angunakolapelessa, Hambantota for Males with special ity was coordinated and conducted by Dr Pushpika Abey- needs, Booweliara, Angunakolapelessa was conducted on sekara. 30.08.2019. Thirty-seven participants attended the pro- A live radio program on “Carcinoma in female reproduc- gramme. It was coordinated by Dr. Anuji Gamage and tive track ” was broadcast on12.09.2019 at SLBC. The conducted by Dr. Pushpika Abeysekara. activity was coordinated and conducted by Dr. Kaumadi- Karunagoda. Guest talk on “Ayurveda for women’s health” was deliv- ered by Dr Kaumadi Karunagoda at the Sevavanitha An- Workshop for Intern Medical Officers –BAMS and BUMS nual general meeting 2019, at CCMP, Narahenpita, on 2011/2012 Group was organized in collaboration with . the Career Guidance Unit of Institute of Indigenous Medi- 31 .08. 2019 . Activity was coordinated by major Pathmal, cine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya on13.09.2019 at CCMP and 57 ladies of the Provost Ladies Club partici- the Auditorium, National Ayurveda Teaching Hospital, pated. Borella. Resource persons were Dr. Amali Sarathchandra, A Conference on Applications of Biotechnology in Veteri- Consultant Radiologist, Dr. Iresh Jayaweera, Consultant nary Medicine. “Biotechnology for future of Veterinary Venerelogist, Dr. Pathirage Kamal Perera, Consultant Medicine” jointly organized with GRC, SLAAS was held on Pharmacologist. This activity was coordinated by Dr. Ka- 04.09.2019.Resource persons; Prof. Basil Alexander, Fac- mal Perera ulty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Dr.Roshan Priyantha, Veterinary Research Institute, A live radio program on “Carcinoma in female reproduc- Peradeniya, Dr.Rohini Wadanambi, Microbiologist, Lanka tive track II” was con- Hospitals (Pvt) Ltd. Target audience: Veterinary profes- ducted on 03.10.2019 from sionals, Scientists, Post graduate students. Activity coor- 1.30pm – 2.00 pm at SLBC. dinated by, Dr. Samantha Iddamaldeniya, Veterinary Re- The activity was coordi- search Institute, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya nated and conducted by Dr. Kaumadi Karunagoda. An Oral Health Education and Screening Programme for oral health problems and management was conducted Section B gram of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and talked about the Ecohydrology. On September 18, 2019. It was A special Orchid Show for the year 2019 was organized in broadcasted on October 10, 2019 collaboration with the Orchid Circle of Ceylon parallel to An awareness program on the importance of herbal plants the 85th anniversary of of Sri Lanka was organized along with the establishment of the Orchid Circle of a herbal plants garden at Galigamuwa Divisional Secre- Ceylon On 07.09.2019. tariat premises on 28.08.. 2019. Dr. Thilak Chandrathilake, Prof. Surawit Wan- Dr. R.M. Dharmadasa, Mr. Sisira Kumara, and Mr. Chalitha nakrairoj from the De- partment of Horticulture Weerasinghe from Link Natural Products participated as of Kasetsart University, the resource persons for the event. There were more than Thailand participated as 200 participants including all Grama Niladaris and Develop- the chief guest and rep- ment officers of the Galigamuwa DS division. resentatives from Section B is planning to organize a one-day seminar session SLAAS, members of the orchid circle of Ceylon, and many on “Global and national environmental trends” on 2nd No- others participated in the event. vember 2019. Orchid plants under many categories were displayed at the show and the best orchid and the second-best orchid in Oil palm cultivation and health benefits awareness pro- each category were gram will be organized jointly with the University of Ru- awarded certificates and huna, Faculty of Agriculture and Malaysian Palm Oil Council prizes. (MPOC) on December 8th 2019. Dr. Chandrathilake partici- pated as the resource per- son for Vidulowa radio pro- “Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future” Section C Status and Way Forward for Sri Lanka”, compiled by Dr. R.M.P.S. Bandara, submitted in July 2019, will be pub- A 3-day training workshop for Assistant Directors/Science lished in the Sri Lanka Engineering News(SLEN) of the Insti- of the Educational zones of Sabaragamuwa and Central tution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Provinces to inculcate Science and Technology Research in school education was organized and conducted in collabo- An article on, “Glyphosate application in Sri Lankan agricul- ration with the Science Education Committee and General tural lands: do we circumvent Chronic Kidney Disease of Research Committee of SLAAS from 28th - 30th August 2019 unknown etiology (CKDu)”compiled by Dr. Buddhika Gun- at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Maharagama. awardana and Prof. Mahesh Jayaweera, submitted in Sep- Mr. Vipula Kulathunga (Assistant Director Science/ Ministry tember 2019, will be published in the International Water of Education) and Ms. WPG Dilhani (Deputy Director Sci- Association Blog on current environmental issues. ence/ Ministry of Education) attended and facilitated the Dr. R.M.P.S. Bandara programme. Around 40Assistant Directors/Science partici- participated in a dis- pated in the event. Following resource persons contributed cussion on “How to to the event:Prof. Bandunee Athapattu (OUSL/SLAAS); Dr. minimize energy con- Meththika Vithanage (USJP); Dr. M.N. Kaumal (UoC/ sumption in build- SLAAS); Dr. Roshan Perera (OUSL); Dr. Shaminda Fernando ings” in the “Vidu (OUSL); Prof. Chamila Jayasinghe (Wayamba University); Asin” programme at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corpora- Dr. Jagath Jayasinghe (USJP); Dr. Janitha Walpita (USJP); tion, which was broadcasted on 12th September 2019. Mr. Nimal Premathilake (Ministry of Megapolis and West- ern Development); Dr. Shiromi Karunaratne (SLIIT/SLAAS); Manamperi Award (Engineering) – 2019 Dr. Buddhika Gunawardana (UoM/SLAAS); Dr. Kumari Fer- Thirty applications were received under individual and nando (KDU/SLAAS); Dr. Chulantha Kulasekere (SLIIT/ group categories for SLAAS); Dr. R.M.P.S. Bandara (KDU/SLAAS); Eng. Kumudu the annual competi- Amarawardhana (KDU/SLAAS); Dr. Sameera Samarakoon tion. Evaluation pres- (UoC). Representing the section F, the president, Dr. Ku- entations were con- mudu Seneviratne conducted one session on “Inquiry- ducted on 5th and 6th based research model in the classroom context” on 29th October 2019 at August. SLAAS office. An article on “Building Energy Standards/Codes: Present Section D pated. The activity coordinator was Dr. Sampath Senevi- ratne and his group (Avian Evolution Node) at the Univer- Dr.H.D. Bandupriyawrote an article to Vidusara Newspaper sity of Colombo. on“Biotechnological