In an era marked by rapid change and uncertainty, research plays a critical role in building resilient societies, sustainable systems, and adaptive knowledge frameworks. This year’s Annual Research Symposium of the University of Colombo explores the theme “Research for Resilience – Advancing Knowledge in a Changing World”, reflecting our commitment to generating impactful research that responds to local and global challenges.
The symposium is expected to bring together scholars, researchers, and students across disciplines to share insights, foster collaboration, and showcase innovations that contribute to resilience—whether environmental, economic, technological, health-related, legal or social.
Each Campus, Faculty, and Institute will contribute through focused sub-themes, highlighting domain-specific challenges and strategies for resilience in their respective fields. Sub-themes and session dates of individual faculties and institutes are:
GUESTS & SPEAKERS
Hon. Dr Harini Amarasuriya
CHIEF GUEST
Prime Minister – The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Professor Indika Karunathilake
GUEST OF HONOUR
Vice Chancellor – University of Colombo
H.E. Professor M Iqbal Choudhary
CHIEF GUEST
Coordinator General, OIC-COMSTECH | Distinguished National Professor, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi | Vice President (Central & South Asia), The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)| WHO Expert on Traditional Medicine Research
Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry | University of Houston, USA | Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors in USA | Senior Advisor on Science and Technology to the President of Sri Lanka
Dr Sasanka Perera
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Chairman, Colombo Institute for Human Sciences | Director, Centre for Poverty Analysis and Tambapanni Academic Publishers | Former Professor of Sociology, University of Colombo and South Asian University, New Delhi | Former Vice President, South Asian University
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Professor Lakmal Weerawarne
CHAIRPERSON
ARS 2025
Professor Tara D Silva
EDITOR
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Professor Kumudu Weerasekara
CO-CHAIR
INAUGURATION COMMITTEE
Dr Thanuja Sooriyagoda
CO-CHAIR
INAUGURATION COMMITTEE
Dr Muditha Bandara
CO-CHAIR
IT & PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Dr Manjusri Wickramasinghe
CO-CHAIR
IT & PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Dr H A Menaka Harankaha
ASSISTANT EDITOR
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
| CAMPUS/ FACULTY/ INSTITUTE/SCHOOL | THEME | SESSION DATE |
| Faculty of Arts | Thinking Together: Collaborative Humanities and Social Sciences for Global Resilience | 20 November 2025 |
| Faculty of Education | Educational Research for Resilience: Embracing Change and Navigating Challenges | 18 November 2025 |
| Faculty of Graduate Studies | Resilience and Innovation through Multidisciplinary Research | 21 November 2025 |
| Faculty of Indigenous Medicine | Sustaining Nature, Sustaining Health: Innovating for a Better Tomorrow | 15 & 16 August 2025 |
| Faculty of Law | The Role of Law in the Winds of Change | 28 & 29 November 2025 |
| Faculty of Management & Finance | 27 & 28 November 2025 | |
| Faculty of Medicine | Shaping the Future Doctor through Education, Research and Innovation | 24 to 28 November 2025 |
| Faculty of Nursing | AI in Healthcare: Advancing Patient Care and Evidence-Based Practice | 28 & 29 October 2025 |
| Faculty of Science | Science for Human-Centric Innovation and Resilience | 07 November 2025 |
| Faculty of Technology | Innovative Resilience Technologies for a Sustainable Future | 18 November 2025 |
| Sri Palee Campus | Transformations in Arts and Media in the Post-Global Era | 31 October 2025 |
| University of Colombo School of Computing | 19 & 20 November 2025 | |
| Institute for Agro Technology and Rural Sciences | Innovative Agro-Technologies for a Climate-Smart and Sustainable Future | 26 June 2025 |
| Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology | 24 October 2025 | |
| Institute of Human Resource Advancement | Shaping the Future Landscape of Work-Integrated Learning and Practice | 23 October 2025 |
| National Institute of Library & Information Sciences | Innovative Libraries, Inclusive Communities: Building Bridges Through Knowledge | 30 October 2025 |
| Postgraduate Institute of Medicine | Ethics and Medico-Legal Awareness in Healthcare | 07 November 2025 |
| Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine | Preserving Heritage through Quality Research | 17 & 18 October 2025 |
| Library | Social Responsibility of Librarians: Leveraging Information for Sustainable Development | 12 December 2025 |
We invite researchers and collaborators from academia, industry, and beyond to engage in dialogue, present their work, and help shape the future of resilient knowledge systems. Further details regarding abstract submission, and registration will be available on the websites of individual faculties and institutes.
CONTACT US
Deputy Registrar – Academic & Publications
Telephone and Fax: +94 112 586712 | Ext: 7096
Email: dr@ap.cmb.ac.lk
UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO
College House
94, Cumaratunga Munidasa Mw
Colombo 03
Sri Lanka