First India-Sri Lanka Joint Research Symposium in Colombo

The inauguration of the first three-day India-Sri Lanka Joint Research Symposium began in Colombo on 29 May. 

The symposium was inaugurated by Sri Lankan Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Senior officials from the Department of Science and Technology of India, Ministry of Science, Technology and Research of the Sri Lankan Government, scientists and experts and project collaborators from both India and Sri Lanka were also present.

Both India and Sri Lanka have jointly funded research programs under the Program of Cooperation signed in 2011 between the Department of Science and Technology of the Indian Government and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research of the Sri Lankan Government. The projects have now been completed. 

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Science, Technology and Research is holding a symposium to showcase the outcomes from India-Sri Lanka joint collaboration in science and technology.

During his address, Minister Premajayantha thanked India for its swift response to the Sri Lankan request for flood relief. He also appreciated India’s readiness to share meteorological data to improve disaster preparedness. 

Noting the strides made by India in science and technology, Premajayantha noted the huge potential for cooperation that existed in the fields of basic and applied sciences, and emphasised the need for continued collaboration.

High Commissioner Sandhu noted that India was today well-positioned to make substantial contributions to the world’s research and development (R&D) industry. He added that India is committed to promoting “science with a human face”. He reiterated India’s commitment to sharing its expertise in science and technology with Sri Lanka. The symposium will conclude on 31 May.