Industry must harness intellectual capacity

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

“The lack of industry participation in research activities of the University Research Unit is a major injustice. Sri Lankan industrialists should make an effort in meeting them more often and discuss their problems. This is a key necessity,” Director Engineering Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering Moratuwa University Prof. Ajith de Alwis said.

He said this at the 13th Symposium held at Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo yesterday. The theme was ‘Research for Industry’.

Prof. Alwis said industrialists have enough problems but they are not bringing them to the notice of the University, there are solutions as we are continuously improving and we need industry to move much faster considering the present economic situation in the country, Prof. Alwis said.

He stressed that the country can have a totally different economy with the use of intellectual capacity, and then we don’t have to work as servants anywhere else, he said.

The FRU of the Moratuwa University through this annual symposium showcases the industry related research of academics and researchers at the faculty to interested stakeholders and disseminate key findings as well as initiating new partnerships.

This year’s symposium carried out over 60 presentations related to software engineering and e-learning, water resource management, coastal zone management, disaster management, environmental and energy management.

Nearly, 100 participants were present from the industrial and engineering sectors. Chancellor of the University, Dr. Ray Wijewardana and Dean Faculty of Engineering Prof. Ananda Jayawardena were also present.