China-Sri Lanka Belt and Road Joint Lab on Green Plant Protection Launched at IBMBB

A delegation from Guizhou University, China, visited the University of Colombo on June 19, 2025, to initiate the China-Sri Lanka Joint Laboratory for Green Plant Protection under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The lab will be housed at the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IBMBB) and will focus on cutting-edge research in agriculture, biotechnology, and molecular science.
The visiting team, including Professor Wang Aihua, Director of the Science Park, Professor Qian Chen, Vice Director of Science & Technology at Guizhou University; alongside Professor Wishwajith Kandegama, Secretary General of China-Sri Lanka Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Green Plant Protection, Professor Zhou Xia, and Dr Pranami Abeywickrama from State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guizhou University.
They met with Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor B P Galhena, the Director of the IBMBB, and Professor S S R Samarakoon. This collaboration will facilitate researcher exchanges, capacity building at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and the development of eco-friendly crop protection solutions, strengthening Sri Lanka–China scientific ties and supporting sustainable agriculture through innovation.