Minister Amunugama meets head of Coordination Council of International Astronomy Olympiad

Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama met Dr. Michael G. Gavrilov, head of the Coordination Council of the International Astronomy Olympiad at the Special Assignment Ministry (19). Prof. Chandana Jayarathna, General President of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, H.M.B.C. Herath Additional Secretary of Ministry Science, Technology and Research, and P.M. Dharmathilaka Director of Ministry Science, Technology and Research also participated at the meeting.

Sri Lanka is to host the ‘23rd International Astronomy Olympiad’ this year as an event to mark its 70 years of independence. This is the first time that an International Olympiad related to science is held in Sri Lanka. This mega event of 10 days duration is due to be attended by about 250 foreign delegates. 

The event is organised by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, under the patronage of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, jointly with Institute of Physics-Sri Lanka, University of Colombo, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Sri Lanka Planetarium and Sri Lankan Astronomy Olympiads Association. About 30-40 countries would send their teams comprising of school children and each team would be headed by two professionals comprising of astronomers, physicists and space scientists, etc.