Vice Chancellor’s Award was presented to Prof. U. G. Chandrika (Right), Department of Bio-Chemistry and the Early Career Researcher Award was presented to Dr. J. M. K. C. Jeewandara (Left), Senior Lecturer, Department of Family Medicine at the Research Awards Ceremony 2017

Research awards 2017 was held on the 3^rd of October 2018 at Golden Rose hotel Boralesgamuwa for the third consecutive year. The awards night was graced by Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, the founder of the Research Awards ceremony and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Deans of the seven faculties, Chairpersons of the Research Council, Academic staff and Non-academic staff of the University.

The awards ceremony awarded many academics for their research performance in the year 2017. The most prestigious award; the Vice Chancellor’s Award was presented to Prof. U. G. Chandrika, Department of Bio-Chemistry and the Early Career Researcher Award was presented to Dr. J. M. K. C. Jeewandara, Senior Lecturer, Department of Family Medicine.

Prof. M. Pathmalal, Co-chair of the Research Council, University of Sri Jayewardenepura stated that there has been much development in Research since the inception of the Research Awards in 2015. The University has gained the second place in the Scopus ranking among other state universities.  He also said that the publications of academics have significantly increased from the year 2015 to 2017. The most significant increase has been in the Publications of full papers in indexed journals, which has increased by 173% from 63 publications to 183 publications. There has also been a significant increase of 72% in the paper publications in conference proceedings from 520 papers to 819 papers. The overall increase in publications is recorded as 63%.

The Vice Chance Chancellor in his address stated that the development of research within these few years has been remarkable. He stated that on the way forward he hopes to commercialize the research within the University and the first step has been laid to initiate the process with the introduction of the Invention Innovation and Venture Creation Council (IIVCC).

“We already have a number of registered entrepreneurs under the IIVCC of whom 90% are from the Department of Entrepreneurship. I was extremely pleased to hear the exhibition that they plan to hold early next year has received a number of applications from students, collaborations between students and academics and academics alone. Thereby by the year 2020, I hope that the University will be self-sufficient with a sustainable economy,” he said.

He also said that discussions are being conducted to bring about the concept of a “University Of Sri Jayewardenepura Kitchen” this brings together individuals who are engaging in various business ventures, innovations and research under one roof where they will be able to collaborate with others.

The Research Awards 2017 made it evident that these aspirations for the future will indeed be realized with the potential it displayed.