14th Annual Research Symposium

The Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka held its 14th Annual Research Symposium on the 9th and 10th of November 2022, themed "Agriculture for Transforming Challenges into Opportunities". As Chief Guest, the vice chancellor, Prof. (Mrs.) G.A.S. Ginigaddara graced the event. Researchers, executives of the university, non-academic staff, students of the faculty, sponsors, and other invited guests attended the event. The inaugural ceremony commenced at 8.30 a.m. on the 9th of November with the lighting of the oil lamp. The 14th Annual Research Symposium's coordinator, Dr. (Mrs.) N.W.I.A. Jayawardana, gave a warm greeting to everyone in attendance and Dr. G.V.T.V. Weerasooriya, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, explained the significance of the day. The Vice Chancellor's remarks accorded the event even greater significance. Proceedings of the symposium were symbolically launched by the Editor-in-chief, Prof. (Mrs). W.A.D. Nayananjalie to the Vice Chancellor intensifying the academism of the moment. The announcement of the Faculty of Agriculture's Research Excellence Awards for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021 was the most exciting moment of the event. The Research Excellence Awards went to Prof. M.H.J.P. Gunarathna, Dr. L.K.W. Wijayaratne and Dr. (Ms.) A.J. Fernando. The emeritus Prof. Kazuo Ogata, Chief advisor to the PRECIDA – University of Jaffna collaboration delivered the keynote speech on the topic “International Collaboration in Agricultural Higher Education Institutes: Lessons Learned from Experience in Japanese Universities” steering undergraduates for a better ambition. The ceremony of inauguration was wrapped up after delivering the vote of thanks by Mrs. C.A.K. Dissanayake, the secretary of the 14th Annual Research Symposium.

The pre-symposium workshop activities commenced after the inaugural session. This workshop featured an industrial speech, a 3-minute thesis competition, a session for postgraduate research presentations, and a session for international undergraduate experience sharing. Anuradha Ceramics (Pvt) Ltd and Pottery Shop Chief Executive Officer Ajith Mohan Perera delivered the industrial speech on “How to be an entrepreneur. During the international undergraduate experience-sharing session, five foreign undergraduates studying for their agriculture-related degrees from Australia, Japan, Turkey, and Canada and an undergraduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka shared their experiences online via zoom.

The technical sessions of the symposium commenced on the 10th of November and consisted of 146 oral presenters representing 8 majoring modules under the four academic departments of the faculty. The programme ended with the presentation of certificates and medals to the top presenters of the technical sessions, postgraduate speakers, and winners of the 3-minute thesis competition. The 14th Annual Research Symposium coordinator officially expressed gratitude to all the parties who helped make it a success before the Dean of the Faculty completed the remarks and denoted the end of the day.