Prof. Dilantha Fernando, Dean of Studies, St. Pauls College, University of Manitoba (UoM), Canada
visited the NSF on the 2nd November 2022 on the invitation of Prof. Ranjith Senaratne, Chairman of the NSF.
Prof. Fernando, a graduate from the University of Peradeniya, is a world-renowned plant pathologist and a Fellow of the American s Society. He received the coveted CPS Award from the Canadian Phytopathological Society in 2020 in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in the field of Phytopathology.
During the visit of Prof. Fernando, discussions were held with the NSF staff with a view to enhancing academic cooperation and building partnerships with the University of Manitoba in particular and Canadian Universities in general. Dr. Sepalika Sudasinghe, Director General, Dr. Thamara Dias, Addl. Director, Dr. Shantha Siri, Head of the International Affairs Division and Scientific Officers of the NSF took part in the discussion.
Prof. Fernando is also the Principal Liaison Point in Canada for the Global Digital Platform (GDP) constructed by the NSF to harness Sri Lanka expatriates for national development. Canada being the second largest country in the world, it was decided to appoint a liaison point for each relevant province to enroll more Sri Lanka expatriates with the GDP for enhanced collaboration with Canadian Universities.
Prof. Fernando discussed ways and means of promoting academic cooperation and research collaboration between the two countries. It was heartening to hear that practically every Faculty of the University of Manitoba has a Sri Lanka expatriate on the academic staff, thus there exists good prospects for building partnerships between the UoM and NSF. The NSF will follow up on the discussion to enhance collaboration between the two institutions in a mutually rewarding and beneficial manner.
