From left: SLT Deputy Chief Innovation and Culture Officer Sisira Piyaratne, SLT Chief Innovation and Culture Officer P.W. Sarath and University of Moratuwa Vice Chancellor Prof. Kapila Perera

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the national ICT and digital services provider signed a landmark agreement with the University of Moratuwa, to carry out collaborative research in the areas of electrical, electronics and telecommunication that is anticipated to have major scientific, technological and economic impacts on the entire island.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SLT and the University was signed recently at the university premises by authorised signatories: University of Moratuwa Vice Chancellor Prof. Kapila Perera and SLT Chief Innovation and Culture Officer P.W. Sarath on behalf of the two organisations.

The University of Moratuwa has been considered as the best technological university in the country with an overall employment ratio of 92.6 percent for all courses at the time of the 2018 convocation. This is on par with some of the best universities in the world.

SLT on the other hand is the national ICT and digital services provider in Sri Lanka, with decades of expertise and know how on ICT. Thus, this is an ideal partnership that facilitates the required platform to conduct research and development activities.

This will have a major impact on Sri Lanka through the development of a mutually beneficial framework where SLT and the University of Moratuwa can work hand in hand to ensure that electrical, electronic and telecommunication research can be jointly conducted.

SLT will provide support in the form of material, finance, human resources and testing facilities to the University to conduct their research activities. SLT is confident that this partnership will significantly contribute towards improving the quality of telecommunications in Sri Lanka, facilitating to provide better services to the public whilst also playing a key role towards contributing to research and development within a global context.

“It is with much hope and expectation that we enter into this landmark partnership with the national ICT solutions provider in the country, Sri Lanka Telecom, especially with their vast experience that spans over 150 years,” commented Prof. Kapila Perera. “We are confident that this partnership will provide the ideal platform to provide our graduates with the required exposure while at the same time, strengthening the university-industry co-operation in Sri Lanka.”

P.W. Sarath said: “We consider it a privilege to partner with one of the best universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Moratuwa with the high standards that it has demonstrated over the years. We believe that this partnership will not only impact Sri Lanka, but, by creating the suitable network to enhance ICT research and development in Sri Lanka, this will pave the way to open up a number of avenues for global socio-economic development as well.”