The ICC of the Faculty of Technology targets direct industry student interaction through an Innovations Club with emphasis on commercializable innovations.
The inaugural meeting of the Industrial Consultative Committee (ICC) of the Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo was held on 15th November 2019 at the Heritage Hall of the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC). The meeting was chaired by Professor Sumedha Jayanetti, Dean, Faculty of Technology. Participants included the heads of the four departments of the Faculty of Technology: Professor Ranjana Piyadasa – Department of Environmental Technology, Dr. Anil Jayasekera – Department of Agricultural Technology, Dr. Thilan Hewage – Department of Information and Communication Technology, and Dr. Darshana Perera – Department of Instrumentation and Automation Technology and 12 senior executive officers from leading industries in Sri Lanka: Dr. Sumith Abeysiriwardena – CIC Agri Business, Mr. Rizvi Zaheed – Heyleys Consumer Products Limited, Mr. Mahendra Cooray – Exotic Foliage (Pvt) Ltd., Dr. Parakrama B Herath – Industrial Gases (Pvt) Ltd., Mr. Chandrarathna Vithanage – The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Ariyaseela Wickremanayake – Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Piyadasa Marambage and Mr. Selvaratnam Natheesan – J Lanka Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Viraj Hewathanthri – Nikini Automation Systems (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. C J E Corea – Riscor Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Saman Kulatunga – Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, and Mr. Anura Dassanayaka – Omnitel (Pvt) Ltd.
The main focus of the meeting was to create a strong link between academia and the industry, which will enable the faculty to produce skilled, employable technologists. In the discussions that ensued, the members of the ICC pledged that they will directly engage with the student community with their guidance and personal mentorship to encourage teamwork, entrepreneurship and innovation. The meeting was followed by cocktails and fellowship at The Verandah overlooking the golf course of the picturesque Royal Colombo Golf Club. The entire event was organized and hosted by UCol GSG. UCol GSG is an alumni group of the Science Faculty of the University of Colombo.
