SLT and University of Peradeniya sign MoU to set up ICT R&D centre

Photo caption (from Left)Prof. Manjula Fernando (Head/Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya), Prof. Upul B.Dissanayake (Vice Chancellor, University of Peradeniya), Mr. Tilak De Silva (Chief Business Innovation Officer - SLT), Dr. G.B.B. Herath (Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering-University of Peradeniya)

Sri Lanka Telecom, the national telecommunication service provider entered into a landmark agreement with the University of Peradeniya, one of the top ranked universities in Sri Lanka that is also well known for its cutting edge research, to carry out collaborative ICT research projects as well as to establish a new state of the art R & D centre at Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya. The MoU was signed recently at the University by Prof. Upul B. Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya and Mr. Tilak De Silva, Chief Business Innovation Officer of SLT. This futuristic step was undertaken with the main vision of providing a suitable platform for researchers from a wide variety of disciplines to come together to engage in research and development activities.

Prof. Upul B. Dissanayake, sharing his views on the partnership said, "University-Industry collaboration has been of great importance today more than ever before due to the fast evolving nature of industry as well as industrial practices. This requires intensive use of knowledge as well as research. As a result, high quality human resources become a vital need. This partnership and this research facility will enhance the availability of highly qualified human resources in the areas of R&D within the country. It will also build a strong relationship between the university network and the industry, thus creating synergies for the benefit of many multi disciplines and many segments of people in our country.”

Speaking on the partnership and the long-term objectives of the initiative, Mr. Tilak De Silva, said, "There is a growing need for innovation and development in ICT to match rising world expectations. Further, the rapid development of technology and industry can exert pressure on our graduates to meet the growing demands of the corporate sector, which they could find difficult to meet, due to their lack of exposure. This partnership and this new envisioned R & D centre will provide the ideal platform for this: to provide the required exposure to graduates as well as to establish a multi-disciplinary research centre for ICT R & D. From SLT’s point of view, this MoU will help us to further our views for creating a network to enhance ICT research and development in Sri Lanka, thereby opening up a number of avenues for global socio-economic development.”

This landmark agreement will help develop a mutually beneficial framework so that SLT can provide support in the form of material, finance, human resources and testing facilities to the University to conduct research activities. SLT is confident that this partnership will help undertake collaborative research which will not only contribute towards improving the quality of telecommunications in Sri Lanka to provide better services to the public but will also play a key role towards contributing to R & D research within a global context. 

Amongst those who participated at the MoU signing from the University of Peradeniya included: Prof. Manjula Fernando, (Head/Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Prof. Kithsiri M. Liyanage Prof. Disala Uduwawala, Dr. G.B.B.Herath (Acting Dean/Faculty of Engineering) and several other senior lecturers. From SLT’s side, participants included: Mr. P.W.Sarath (Deputy Chief Business Innovation Officer), Mr. Indika Gunawardana (GM – Quality Management & Information Security), Mr. Mangala Bandaranayake (DGM - Sales_CP & NCP), Mr. Anuradha Udunuwara (Senior Engineer) and several other engineers attached to the project.