We are pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Network of Sri Lankan Academics (CaNSLA) on February 23, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 11 AM EST (8.00 to 9.30 PM Sri Lanka time). Please mark your calendar for this momentous occasion to celebrate and officially inaugurate our network.
Background
Since June 2022, the Sri Lankan High Commission in Ottawa, under the leadership of the High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Harsha Kumara Navaratne, has been working with several Canadian academics with Sri Lankan heritage to form an academic network and hosted the following events.
- A virtual meeting with U15 Universities attended by the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and Vice-Chancellors of Sri Lankan Universities to explore the opportunities.
- The visit of Hon. Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education, Sri Lanka to Toronto and meeting with the representatives of Canadian Universities to discuss the collaboration, including the planning of a network.
- A meeting with Hon. Dr. Suren Raghavan, State Minister of Higher Education in Sri Lanka and representatives of Canadian universities to establish a formal structure of networking opportunities to facilitate projects.
CaNSLA
CaNSLA will be part of the global framework of the “Federation of Sri Lankan International Academic Network (F-SLIAN),” under the patronage of the state minister for Higher Education in Sri Lanka, Dr. Suren Raghavan and H.E. Mr. Harsha Kumara Navaratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Canada and the officials from the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa.
CaNSLA will be a not-for-profit, non-partisan and independent network registered under the “Canada Not for Profit Corporation Act”. It will significantly strengthen the ties between the Sri Lankan and Canadian Academic Communities of Sri Lankan heritage. The network will be an integral part of a global F-SLIAN framework coordinated by the Office of the State Minister of Higher Education of Sri Lanka, encompassing chapters from North America, Europe, and East Asia. The Canadian chapter of CaNSLA, the very to launch, will contribute to the global framework but will remain an independent entity in Canada irrespective of the formation and implementation of F-SLIAN.An interim committee comprising 11 academics in Canada was formedin Nov. 2023 to launch the CaNSLA formally. The Interim Committee and a few other academics in Canada, through consultation, have developed a set of primary objectives, membership categories, structure, and by-laws with legal inputs and are working on registering the organization under Canadian Jurisdiction.
CaNSLA primary objectives:
- Fostering Academic Collaboration and Exchange: Establishing and enhancing collaborative relationships between Canadian and Sri Lankan institutions, promoting knowledge exchange, academic staff mobility, and establishing dual and joint academic programs.
- Supporting Sri Lankan Academics and Students: Providing guidance and mentorship to Sri Lankan academics and students, facilitating their understanding of emerging academic areas of interest, encouraging promising students to pursue graduate studies in Canada, and aiding in developing pedagogical materials.
- Enhancing Research Opportunities: Creating joint research projects and collaborations in mutually beneficial areas to advance Sri Lankan universities' research culture and academic outputs in creating better international visibility.
- Building International Academic Networks: Developing joint projects and research initiatives involving Sri Lankan academics globally, fostering a diverse and collaborative academic network.
- Supporting Sri Lankan Students in Canada: To provide guidance, mentorship, and support to Sri Lankan students studying in Canadian universities, helping them to navigate academic challenges and integrate into the Canadian educational system.
Membership in CaNSLA is open to individuals of Sri Lankan heritage (origin or descent) regardless of their citizenship status in Canada, as long as they reside in Canada and are attached to a Canadian Post-Secondary Institution under different categories that include:
- Academic members (academic staff, professors emeritus, adjunct and clinical professors)
- Associate members (post-doctoral and research fellows and university staff with academic, administrative and research roles, Sessional Instructors)
- Student members (Ph.D. students)
As of February 2024, over 115 Canadian academics of Sri Lankan origin have expressed interest in joining CaNSLA. Following are the elected office bearers of the CaNSLA based on the Special General Meeting held on Feb. 16, 2024.
| President | Prof. Janaka Ruwanpura | Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (International) and Professor of Engineering University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta |
| Vice-President | Prof. Dilantha Fernando | Dean of Studies and Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology, St. Paul’s College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Secretary | Prof. Wimal Rankaduwa | Professor of Economics, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island |
| Treasurer | Prof. Selvadurai Dayanadan | Professor and Chair, Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec |
| Assistant Secretary | Dr. Ishari Waduwara-Jayabahu | International Relations Manager, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario. |
| Regional Coordinators | Prof. Kasun Hewage | Professor of Engineering, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia |
| Dr. Lahiru Silva | Instructor, School of Construction, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Alberta | |
| Dr. Inoka Amarakoon | Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. | |
| Dr. Sivakuamar Gulasingam | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physician), University Health Network, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Department of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario | |
| Prof. Vasantha Rupasinghe | Professor of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia | |
| Advisors | Prof. Chan Wirasinghe | Professor of Civil Engineering and Dean Emeritus of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta |
| Prof. Mario Pinto | Vice-President (Research and International) and Professor of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. | |
| Dr. Manjula Bandara | Adjunct Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
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| Associate Member Representative | Dr. Madumani Amararathna | Post-Doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Student Member Representative | Mr. Tharindu Dodanwala | Ph.D. Student in Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario. |
| Patron | Mr. Harsha Kumara
Navaratne |
H.E. Sri Lanka High Commissioner of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario |
Details of the Launch
The launch of CaNSLA will occur virtually via Zoom, allowing broad participation across different regions. Please join us through the following Zoom link for the inaugural meeting to lay the groundwork for a collaborative and dynamic future activities.
Join Zoom Meeting: Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 956 1786 1103 Passcode: 767338
The following dignitaries and many other invited guests will attend the CaNSLA launching event.
- H.E. Mr. Eric Walsh, Canadian High Commissioner in Colombo.
- H.E. Mr. Harsha Kumara Navaratne, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Canada.
- Hon. Dr. Suren Raghavan, State Minister of Higher Education in Sri Lanka
Issued by:
Professor Janaka Ruwanpura, Ph.D., P.Eng., FCAE, NAC
Founding President, Canadian Network of Sri Lankan Academics (CaNSLA)
Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (International) and Professor of Engineering, University of Calgary
+1-587-896-7503, janaka@ucalgary.ca
Anzul Jhan
Deputy High Commissioner
Sri Lankan High Commission in Ottawa
+1-6132554937,slhc.ottawa@mfa.gov.lk
22 February 2024
