In-line with the Annual Research Symposium 2024 of the University of Colombo, the Postgraduate Technical Sessions of the Faculty of Science was held on 5^th November 2024, under the theme ‘Innovation in Science and Technology for Sustainability’, contributing to the University’s sustainability performance, via invited speeches and through communicating research and innovation addressing sustainability challenges. The event also provided a general platform to enhance the visibility of research conducted by the faculty. This year, the Postgraduate Technical Sessions was organized by the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS), Faculty of Science.

The inauguration of the Postgraduate technical sessions was graced by The Vice Chancellor, Senior Professor (Chair) H. D. Karunaratne as the special guest.  Dr. Sepalika Sudasinghe, the Director General of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, was the invited Keynote Speaker, and shared her thoughts on how the science and technology driven research and innovation play a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Another highlight of the inauguration was the session on ‘Machine Learning Strategies for Research Enhancement’ conducted by Dr. Pemantha Lakraj, Dr. Dilanga Siriwardane and Dr. Sameera Viswakula, of the Faculty of Science.  

While focusing on research, the faculty aims to produce postgraduates who are globally competitive, effective, and productive individuals, and provides them with opportunities for personal and professional development. The academics and postgraduate students of the faculty continue to generate knowledge in diverse fields of science that is both nationally and globally relevant, and their research leads to a considerable number of publications annually in high-ranking journals and conferences and has also led to many innovations and national as well as international patents. At the Postgraduate Technical Sessions this year, twenty-four research studies were presented under three tracks, Chemistry, Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences & Nuclear Science.

The best presenter of each track was selected by a panel of evaluators and awarded a certificate and a cash award. The best presenters this year were Ms. D. N. A. Arachchi (Track 1 Chemistry; Abstract title: Fabrication of a Chitosan/Alginate/TiO₂ Based Carrier System for the Encapsulation of Gibberellic Acid and Investigating Their Release Profiles), Ms. J.W. Gunawardana (Track 2 Biology; Abstract title: Changes in Total Antioxidant Activities of Sri Lankan Rice Oryza sativa L. During Domestic Cooking and Antioxidative Benefits of Rice Consumption in the Daily Diet), and Ms. U. Hisham (Track 3 Physical Sciences & Nuclear Science; Abstract title: Mathematical Modelling of Automatic Tube Current Modulation in Computed Tomography Using a Customised Phantom).

The faculty will continuously contribute to promote national Sustainable Development Goals as well as for the advancement of science, through impactful research, innovation, and dissemination of new knowledge and insights.