SLTC holds Research and Innovation Awards Ceremony ( RaIN 2021)

Prof Dushantha Jayakody, Dr Deepika Priyadarshani, Dr Nanda Gunawardena, Dr Nandika Miguntanna, Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe, Prof S R D Rosa, Nipuna Ranawaka, M.P, Mr Yohan Pand

The Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC), recently concluded its Research and Innovation Awards Night – RaIN 2021 – to felicitate achievers who have won international and national recognition for research and innovation. The event was held at the SLTC Padukka Campus and was graced by Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth & Sports, as the Chief Guest and Minister of Trade Dr. Bandula Goonewardena, Nipuna Ranawaka, Member of Parliament also graced the occasion as Special Guests.   

Sri Lanka Technological Campus dedicated the event to recognize best performing researchers, staff and students, especially those who have shown exceptional performance in terms of research during the past years.   
Key achievements as an institute such as publishing more than 80 plus research publications for the year 2020, being ranked as 19th in Sri Lanka in Webometrics rankings, publishing of 2 books and 5 book chapters, SLTC being the recipient of 2 major European Union (EU) research grants as a young university as well as individual performances such as publishing the Highest Impact Factor paper in Engineering and Physics – 2019 were highlighted during this event  

Winners of last year’s World Invention and Trade Expo (WINTEX) International Paper Competition held in Indonesia were recognized at the event. Five teams from the School of Engineering at SLTC secured three Gold Awards, two Silver Awards and a Special Award for Best Application of Technology in the ‘Best of the Best’ category.   

In addition, 2 Performance Research Awards and 4 Emerging Young Researcher Awards were handed over to respective winners by MP Namal Rajapaksa while  MP Nipuna Ranawaka gave away seven awards: one Certificate of Appreciation for Undergraduate Research Supervision and six Certificates of Recognition for Mentoring and Coaching Undergraduate Research and Innovation. 

 
Speaking at the event, Founder President/CEO Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe said: “SLTC was started in 2014 with an investment of only USD 1 million, with the single-minded intention of uplifting the quality of private-sector education in Sri Lanka. I am very proud to note the University has growth and expansion since and the many accolades distributed today, some awarded by global bodies, are a testament to how we have manifested the aforesaid intention through the uncompromised quality of education offered. Today the SLTC has over 3000 students, 200 distinguished members of faculty and many state-of-the-art facilities that serve to produce highly sought after, employable and world-class graduates who will go on to become the leaders of tomorrow.”  

He said that SLTC was the first University to spend over 25% of revenue on research and the only Institution to have a dedicated faculty to engage in research only and facility to liaise with affiliated foreign Universities i.e., Centre for Global Education (CGE).   

Meanwhile, Minister of Youth and Sports Min. Namal Rajapaksa noted: “While free education should be protected at all costs, our system should accommodate more private sector players who can deliver to match the global standards in terms of higher education – a lot of the Universities abroad depend heavily on research; to produce competitive and competent graduates who are employable globally, we have to embrace this trend as well. I believe SLTC has so far done a tremendous job in that regard. SLTC is well poised to be not just the No 1 research University in Sri Lanka but also one of the top facilities regionally.”   

One of the highlights of the evening was an act by the Sri Lankan indigenous (Veddah) community for which the introduction was provided by music composer, award-wining vocalist & faculty member of SLTC Nadeeka Guruge. The Awards Night which was carried out adhering to health and safety guidelines was a resounding success.   
Sri Lanka Technological Campus is the first research-based, residential, university with strong industry links locally and internationally offering an extensive repertoire including more than 25 degree programmes of Ministry of Education and approved degrees.