University of Sri Jayewardenepura participated at the Annual Inter University Debate Competition organized by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC), on the 27th of April 2024, and were awarded first runner-up at the Awards Ceremony held on 21st of June 2024 at Marino Beach Hotel Colombo.
Eight students from the Department of Chemistry participated in the competition: Minduli Perera, Devin Dharmarathne, Avishka Thathsara, Darshitha Dilshan, Keshala Gunarathna, Hashma Imnisar, Wehara Gunawardena and Aaysha Sufran.
The competition was conducted according to the league method, where each team debated with all other teams. The team from College of Chemical Sciences won the competition, while the University of Colombo emerged third. The team from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura thanked their Lecturer in Charge, Prof. Theshini Perera for her unwavering guidance and support extended throughout the course of the practice sessions. They acknowledged the encouragement they received from the Head of the Department of Chemistry, Prof. Champa Jayaweera and the other lecturers of the department. They also expressed their immense gratitude to their past debating captains, Lasni Nishshanke, Manesha Fernando and Govini Perera for their valuable input during their practice sessions as well as to Hirusha Liyanage.
The team also appreciated Dr. Kushan Weerasiri, Chairperson of the Inter- University Debating Committee and the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon for providing them with an opportunity to showcase their skills and engage in intellectual discussions as young scientists.
