The 3rd International Conference of the Centre for Environmental Sustainability (CES) on “The Quest for Environmental Management for Sustainability Under a Changing Climate” was successfully held on the 25th August 2023 in the mode of a hybrid conference. With funding from the AHEAD project of the Ministry of Higher Education, this conference was held in collaboration with the Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS) of the University of Peradeniya.
The Conference consisted with a grand ceremonial inauguration and eight technical sessions in six thematic areas of Biodiversity and Conservation, Wetland Ecosystems, Water Quality Management, Pollution Detection and Control, Green Industry towards Environmental Sustainability and Landuse Planning and Environmental Monitoring.
The conference chair and Director of the Center for Environmental Sustainability, Prof. Tilak Hewawasam, gave the opening remarks and highlighted the Center’s initiatives. Professor Terrance Madujith, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Peradeniya, emphasized the value of research and knowledge dissemination in the area of environmental sciences in his speech. Professor M.D. Lamawansa, Vice-Chancellor, University of Peradeniya delivered a notable speech while thanking to the organizers for conducting this conference. Professor Chandana Udawatta, the Vice Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Sri Lanka and Director of the AHEAD project of the Ministry of Higher Education, graced the Inaugural Session of the Conference as the Chief Guest via online. Eng. Samantha Kumarasena, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Cleaner Production Center of Sri Lanka, delivered the Keynote Address of the Conference on “Creating the Pathways for the Low Carbon, Circular Economy by Enriching Organizational Level Environmental Sustainability Roadmap”. Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Nalin Suranjith Gama-Arachchige, the Conference Coordinator and the Deputy Director (Research and Environmental Management) of the Center for Environmental Sustainability.
The Inauguration Ceremony of the conference was held at the Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya which was broadcasted live to all the participants of the conference. The technical sessions were successfully conducted via an online platform which was also broadcasted to the participants.
