Sri Lanka’s first networking camp for statistics undergraduates

Friday, 17 October 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Institute of Applied Statistics, Sri Lanka (IASSL) is gearing up to host STAT ReTreat 2025, the country’s inaugural residential networking camp for undergraduate students in Statistics. With eligible universities and institutes already confirmed and student registration actively underway, the stage is set for a landmark gathering from 17 to 19 October at the National Institute of Co-operative Development (NICD), Polgolla.

This camp will bring together budding statisticians from both public and private institutions, providing them a shared space to connect, learn, and envision collaborative futures in the domain of statistics and data science.

IASSL: National hub for statisticians and data scientists

The initiative is being driven by IASSL, which was formally incorporated by an Act of Parliament (Act No. 38 of 2011) to serve as Sri Lanka’s premier professional body for statisticians. IASSL evolved from the earlier Applied Statistics Association of Sri Lanka (ASASL), established in 1999. The Institute has the mandate to promote statistical education, research, training, and consultancy; to organise seminars, publish journals (notably the Sri Lankan Journal of Applied Statistics) and to collaborate with national and international bodies. It also runs courses such as a Higher Diploma in Applied Statistics and open certificate training programs. Beyond university-level engagement, IASSL has for about a decade organised the National Statistics Olympiad, a national competition aimed at stimulating statistical interest and literacy among school and first-year university students. The Olympiad is one of IASSL’s signature outreach efforts to bring wider awareness of statistics across Sri Lanka.

IASSL President Dr. Rajitha M. Silva said: “This camp is more than a meeting of students—it is an investment in the collective future of statistics in Sri Lanka. When young minds from diverse universities come together, share ideas, and spark collaborations, the entire profession is strengthened. I believe many seeds sown here will grow into long-term research, innovation, and partnerships.”

The event will feature keynote addresses and invited lectures delivered by veteran statisticians, data scientists, and industry leaders. A slate of hands-on workshops will cover statistical computing, modelling techniques, data visualisation, and emerging analytical tools. Students will also have the opportunity to present their own work through mini-presentations, sharing early-stage research or projects with peers. Team-based challenges and problem-solving exercises will encourage collaboration across institutions, while social and networking sessions are built in to help participants form relationships that may outlast the ReTreat itself.

As IASSL Statistics Popularisation Committee Chairperson Chanaka Hapuarachchi puts it: “We aim to make STAT ReTreat a space not only for learning, but for connecting where students not only absorb new skills but build friendships and partnerships that endure beyond these three days.”