The inauguration ceremony of the 8th batch (2025-2026 intake) of the MSc in Industrial Analytical Chemistry was held on 16th January 2025 at the C1 Lecture Hall of the Department of Chemistry. This program is offered by the Department of Chemistry through the Faculty of Graduate Studies, USJ.
Professor Upul Subasinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Prof. Champa Jayaweera, Head of the Department of Chemistry, and Dr. Asitha Cooray, Course Coordinator of the MSc program, and Mr. Mohomed Atheeq, Programmer Cum System Analyst, Faculty of Graduate Studies, graced the ceremony. The students who attended the ceremony gained insight into the MSc program and the opportunities offered by the program were explained.
The Department of Chemistry is pleased to share the outstanding accomplishment of one of our Chemistry Honors Degree undergraduate students, Ms. K.T.G. Amaya Haripriya, who secured Second Place in the Essay Competition on ‘Role of Chemists in Green and Sustainable Industries’ organized by the Women Chemist Committee (WCC) of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon – 2025.
The award ceremony was held at the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon on February 11, 2025, during the Sri Lankan Women Chemists Breakfast, in conjunction with theIUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Amaya Haripriya for this remarkable achievement.
The Department of Chemistry at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura recently organized an Advanced Level (A/L) teacher training program in response to a request from the Ministry of Education. Held on the 30th of November and 1st of December 2024, this two-day initiative was designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of A/L school teachers in conducting chemical laboratory experiments effectively, with the overarching goal of improving the teaching and learning of chemistry concepts. Practical laboratory experiments are integral to understanding the theoretical concepts of chemistry. By engaging in hands-on activities, students can connect abstract ideas with real-world applications, fostering a deeper appreciation and comprehension of the subject.
The training sessions were conducted by an esteemed panel of resource persons from the Department of Chemistry, including Prof. M. A. B. Prashantha, Dr. Tharindu Senapathi (Physical Chemistry Lab), Dr. Upul Kumarasighe, Dr. Chandima Narangoda (Organic Chemistry Lab), Dr. Asitha Cooray, and Dr. Samindi Jayawickrama (Inorganic Chemistry Lab). The program was coordinated with the Ministry of Education by Dr. Laksiri Weerasighe under the guidance of the Head of the Department, Prof. C. D. Jayaweera, whose leadership was instrumental in ensuring the success of the initiative.
A total of 65 Sinhala medium A/L teachers participated in the program, which featured detailed demonstrations of key experiments in the A/L curriculum. The sessions also included troubleshooting common laboratory issues, maintaining safety standards, and employing modern teaching aids to maximize student engagement.
The Department of Chemistry received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both the participants and the Ministry of Education. The teachers appreciated the high-quality training and expressed their satisfaction with the practical knowledge and innovative techniques they gained. The Ministry of Education has also shown interest in organizing similar training sessions in the future, highlighting the program’s success and its potential to create a lasting impact on chemistry education in Sri Lanka.
