National Science Foundation- Sri Lanka

Dr. Guiliano Degrassi of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) visited NSF on 17 February 2020 and held discussion with Prof. Ranjith Senaratne, Chairman of NSF  to strengthen cooperation between ICGEB and Sri Lankan universities. He stressed on the need for more research on bio-fertlizers for cereals, particularly rice and mentioned about fellowships and partial support for conferences by ICGEB. Dr. Sudarshanee Geekiyange, Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Biology, University of Ruhuna and Dr. Duwini Padukkage of NSF joined the discussion.

Blockchain technology has attracted extensive attention in the recent past in Sri Lanka. It is a simple and decentralized method of passing information in fully automated and safe manner and can be applied to many fields providing unalterable public records of digital transactions. Blockchain-based applications are springing up in numerous fields including financial, insurance, health care, fraud detection services and education.

 The final round of the Science Research Projects Competition 2019 was held on the 12^th February 2020 in the NSF Auditorium. Prof. Ranjith Senaratne, the Chairman of the NSF, inaugurated the session with an inspiring introductory speech together with a welcome note addressing students and teachers. He highlighted the merit of scientific research and the potential of students to grow as good researchers starting from early days as students. Twenty selected winners from the first round of the SRPC were presented certificates.