Horizon Campus launches country’s 1st Postgraduate Diploma in Food Safety, Animal and Plant Hygiene

Wednesday, 22 March 2017 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Horizon Campus, Malabe was established in 2011 and currently offers UGC and Ministry of Higher Education approved degree programs and partnering with many global universities and institutions.

Following the current requirements identified in the food sector to ensure food safety and enhance global food trade, a Postgraduate Diploma in Food Safety, Animal and Plant Hygiene has been developed by the Horizon Campus Malabe in collaboration with the Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka. This is incidentally the first-ever Postgraduate Diploma in Food Safety, Animal and Plant Hygiene to be launched in the country.

Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senarathne

The objective of the program is to strengthen the knowledge and attitudes of those engaged in our expanding food industry to be globally competitive in offering their services. This Postgraduate Diploma was designed and developed by Emeritus Professor Upali Samarajeewa based on his international expertise and experience to fulfil the need of the future food industry. Prof. Samarajeewa is the current chairman of Board of Governors in the Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka.

Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne was the chief guest at this occasion. Also gracing the event was Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka President Prof. K.K.D.S. Ranaweera, Horizon Group Chairman Upul Daranagama, Horizon Campus CEO Ajitha Wanasinghe, Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka Governing Board Chairman Prof. Upali Samarajeewa, Horizon Campus Acting Vice Chancellor Dr. Ruwan Perera, Faculty of Science Dean Dr. Lekha Wanasakera and Horizon Campus Head of Marketing Nayani Costa.

The launch ceremony was also attended by many of the decision makers of organisations in the food industry, plantations and exports that included chairmen, managing directors, heads of human resources and heads of quality assurance.

Sri Lanka being a signatory to the Agreements of the World Trade Organisation, is expected to maintain international standards in assuring food safety at export and import, in producing and processing of foods locally and in catering services. This requires a knowledgeable work that has a clear understanding of food safety principles and their applications based on sound science, in line with the developed countries.

Horizon campus backed by its expert panel of lecturers and faculty members in this sphere, intends to play a key role in producing the necessary personnel needed for this sector and help Sri Lanka attain its position as a Knowledge-Economy that is on par with other leading industrialised countries.

For further information log on to www.horizoncampus.edu.lk.