A delegation from National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan (NSYSU) visited the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJP) to inaugurate of the newly established “Environmental Change Sciences and Technology Innovation Center (ECSTIC)” at the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Science and the World Class University Project (WCUP), USJP on 25^th February 2019.

Prof. Ranil De Silva, Vice Chancellor Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Prof. Mitch Ming-Chi Chou

Prof. Ranil de Silva, Director of the WCUP’s long-lasting collaborations with NSYSU were instrumental in the signing of two MoUs on the 14th March and 16th  November 2018 respectively between NSYSU and USJP providing an umbrella for increased collaboration attributing the following benefits reaped today;

• Establishment of “Environmental Change Sciences and Technology Innovation Center (ECSTIC)”
• Multidisciplinary innovative research collaborations
• Double, split- joint collaborative research projects in MPhil & Ph.D. degrees between NSYSU and USJP.
• Tuition waiver scholarship by NSYSU
• Public-Private Partnerships linking industry and academia leading to product development targeting the global market.

The Inauguration Ceremony was followed by a symposium on “Marine Biology & Genetic Characterization of Natural Products” hosted by the WCUP in collaboration with NSYSU, where NSYSU Professors presented their research highlights. The Symposium was graced upon by the Ambassador of Taiwan, Tien Chung- Kwang, as the Guest of Honor.

Ambassador of Taiwan, Tien Chung- Kwang  and Prof. Ranil De Silva

Unveiling of the Office Logo: Ambassador of Taiwan, Tien Chung- Kwang, Prof. Ranil De Silva, Prof. M. M. Pathmalal and Dr, Kamal Ranathunga

The symposium was organized to bridge the gap between industry and academia propelling towards product development and genetic characterization of natural products to address the pressing need to protect our endangered species and the establishment of a plant genetic library under the guidance of Prof. Yu Chang Chiang, Chairman, Department of Biological science, NSYSU,  whose expertise in numerous fields such as Plant Genetics, Population Genetics, Molecular Evolution, Phytogeography and Conservation Genetics would be a great asset beneficial to fight against adulteration of natural products in Sri Lanka.

The  symposium was  organized to bridge  the gap between   industry  and academia  propelling towards product development  and genetic  characterization of  natural products to address the pressing need to protect our endangered species and the establishment of a plant genetic library under the guidance of Prof. Yu Chang Chiang,  Chairman, Department of Biological science, NSYSU,    whose  expertise   in   numerous   fields   such   as  Plant   Genetics,   Population   Genetics, Molecular   Evolution,   Phytogeography   and   Conservation   Genetics   would   be   a   great   asset beneficial to fight against adulteration of natural products in Sri Lanka. The  symposium was  organized to bridge  the gap between   industry  and academia  propelling towards product development  and genetic  characterization of  natural products to address the pressing need to protect our endangered species and the establishment of a plant genetic library under the guidance of Prof. Yu Chang Chiang,  Chairman, Department of Biological science, NSYSU,    whose  expertise   in   numerous   fields   such   as  Plant   Genetics,   Population   Genetics, Molecular   Evolution,   Phytogeography   and   Conservation   Genetics   would   be   a   great   asset beneficial to fight against adulteration of natural products in Sri Lanka.

On the Same day, during a meeting with the Hon. Minister Health,  Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senarathne,  Prof. Yu Chung Chiang and Prof. Ranil de Silva discussed protecting Sri Lanka’s biodiversity which flourishes with a variety of indigenous ayurvedic medicinal plants, utilizing scientific methods for identification of these plant species. Of the identified 1,500 species of medicinal plants in Sri Lanka, only a small percentage of them have been studied for their potential value as a source of medicinal drugs.

Prof. Yu Chung Chiang, Prof. Ranil De Silva and Hon. Minister Health,  Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senarathne

Scholarship information>> National Sun Yat-sen University scholarships for graduates and young scholars of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Please find below links of the news published in the following newspapers;

The Sunday Times March 3, 2019 (Weekend English Newspaper with the largest circulation)
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190303/education/mous-signed-between-jpura-uni-and-nsysu-338496.html

Ceylon Today Newspaper (27th February) carried the News Item:
https://www.ceylontoday.lk/print-edition/2/print-more/25154

Ceylon Today Sunday Newspaper (March 3, 2019) carried a full interview with Prof. Yu-Chung Chiang:
https://www.ceylontoday.lk/print-edition/5/print-more/25422
https://ceylontoday.lk/print-edition/5/print-more/25422