Visit of His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka
His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, visited the University of Colombo on the 1st of March 2024. Mrs Navya Singla, First Secretary (PIC), Senior Professor (Chair) H D Karunaratne, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Senior Professor Sandagomi Coperahewa, Founding Director, Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS), Professor U P P Serasinghe, the Director of Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS), Dr Iroja Caldera, the Director of the International Office, University of Colombo, Dr Saumya Janakanthi Kumari, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine graced the event. Nearly Eighty participants participated in the meeting including the staff members who have completed degrees from Indian universities working in the University and some students from the Department of International Relations, University.
The event commenced with the singing of the National Anthems of Sri Lanka and India. The welcome address was delivered by Dr Caldera. Professor Coperehewa then delivered a presentation on the topic “Origin, Role and Activities of the Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies(CCIS)”. CCIS was established in 2012 as a part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Colombo and the Indian High Commission. It is a multi-disciplinary research centre that seeks to strengthen the Indo-Lanka relationship and is the only institute fully dedicated to the study of contemporary India in Sri Lanka. CCIS facilitates lectures, seminars, collaborative research projects and workshops. He then gifted the book ‘One Hundred Years of Gitanjali’ to His Excellency Santosh Jha.
His Excellency Santosh Jha then addressed those present. He spoke of CCIS representing the age-old ties between India and Sri Lanka the fast-paced growth of Contemporary India and the importance for Sri Lanka to study them. Many new developments and achievements have taken place in India and this has had a positive impact on their population. He also highlighted the many full scholarships granted to Sri Lankan students to study at top-tier universities in India.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts and the significance of CCIS in strengthening the bond between India and Sri Lanka. He mentioned the paramount importance of establishing the Indian Graduates’ Alumni Association among the academics and administrative officers of the University of Colombo. His experience in being the President of the Japanese Graduates’ Alumni Association of Sri Lanka and the activities conducted by the association has led him to propose the establishment of the Indian University Graduates’ Alumni Associations in all universities in Sri Lanka – starting with the University of Colombo. He also mentioned how grateful the university is for this opportunity and he is looking forward to the future and growth of CCIS. Dr Janakanthi Kumari delivered a speech titled “An Account of Personal Experiences of doing a PhD in India” and the vote of thanks was delivered by Professor Serasinghe.
