Admiral Dr. Colombage awarded guest professorship from Sichuan University

Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage, who is the Director of the Center for Indo-Lanka Relations of the Pathfinder Foundation, was awarded a guest professorship by the President of Sichuan University. The certificate was handed over to the Admiral by the Vice President of Sichuan University Professor of Economics Yan Shijing during a ceremony held in Chengdu. 

The ceremony was attended by Ambassador Bernard Goonethilleke, the Chairman and Luxman Siriwardene, Executive Director of Pathfinder Foundation. Also present were Professor Yang Minghong, the Executive Director and many other departmental heads of the Sichuan University. Admiral Colombage also delivered a lecture on ‘Changing Dynamics in the Indian Ocean: Geo-strategic Competition and Dilemma of Sri Lanka’ at the Sichuan University.

In April 2017, Pathfinder Foundation established a formal relationship with the Faculty of Social Development and Western China Development Studies of Sichuan University by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. The objectives of this MoU were to; establish a working relationship and partnership between the parties in support of the values, goals and objectives of both institutions; provide the basis for collaboration in undertaking joint activities; and strengthen and consolidate the historical, social and cultural affinities and linkages among the peoples of Sri Lanka and the People’s Republic of China, through mutual understanding and access to knowledge.

Two round table discussions on ‘Economic Development in Sri Lanka and Belt and Road Initiative: Challenges and Way Ahead’ and ‘Economic Development in Sri Lanka and China’s role: Challenges and Way Forward’ have been conducted between the two institutions and elaborate arrangements are being made to enhance further collaboration to bring more academic benefit to Sri Lanka.

Admiral Dr. Colombage is a former Commander of the Navy who retired three years ago having served for nearly 36 years including the full spectrum of the conflict. He became the first Doctoral graduate from the prestigious Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in 2015 and now pursue a career in academics. 

Admiral is a visiting lecturer at the Colombo University, Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, and Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute. He has presented and published many academic papers here in Sri Lanka as well as Abroad. He is a Strategic Maritime security expert and invited to speak in many international forums.

Sichuan University is situated at the heart of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in People’s Republic of China. With a history of 2300 years, Chengdu is the most important economical, education, transportation, science and innovation, and communication centre in Western China. Entering the 21st century, Chengdu has grown into an economic powerhouse that is both a symbol and the reality of the 21st century global economy. As one of the few prestigious universities in China, Sichuan University is devoted to world-class teaching, and research, and to serving as an innovation engine that propels China to a new stage of development. 

With 34 colleges and professional graduate schools covering 12 categories of disciplines, Sichuan University is the most comprehensive university in China. It has over 5324 members of faculty graduated from world renowned research universities and in-depth courses to over 37000 under graduate students, 20000 post-graduate students as well as 3000 international students. 

Sichuan University faculties actively engage the global knowledge network and push the limits of human knowledge in new energy, human health, material science, arts and many more. The full-spectrum of disciplines within Sichuan University is comparatively advantageous to encourage researches of different areas to collaborate for complex challenges. Sichuan University alumni are people of profound social impact, some of them are policy makers in governments, academic professionals at research universities, and public and private sector professionals involved in today’s dynamic and global economy.