ASAIHL 2019
University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Keynote

Revitalizing higher education for sustainable development
Prof. Sarath Amunugama
PhD (University of Sorbonne, France)
Professor Emeritus
Former Vice- Chancellor,University of Kelaniya and University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Sri Lanka
Professor Sarath Amunugama obtained his higher education in 1970 from University of Peradeniya and was offered a scholarship from University of Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle’ to study French language where he also completed his Bachelor’s Degree, Postgraduate diploma in teaching French , his Masters in modern French Literature and his Ph. D. in Didactics of Languages. Prof. Amunugama has held the responsibilities of the University as the Head of the Department of Modern Languages, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and as the founder Vice – Chancellor of the Visual and Performing Arts. Prof. Amunugama was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya for two consecutive terms from 2008. He was honored with the highest order of Knighthood for academic excellence conferred by His Excellency the President of France. Professor Sarath Amunugama is very much enthusiastic about his career as a teacher and is planning to continue to serve the youth of the country by helping them in their education, to develop their academic and also their personality skills.
Plenary Speakers

Revamping higher education with the application of innovative technology
Professor Bimali M Jayawardena
PhD (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Prof. Bimali Jayawardena has been involved with the higher education sector for the last 30 years in Sri Lanka and abroad. She is serving as the current Dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya. She has a PhD degree in Biochemistry from University of Illinois at Chicago, USA and a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Chemistry from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She has served as a post-doctoral researcher in USA, commonwealth fellow in United Kingdom and as an adjunct senior lecturer and senior research fellow in Australia. She is interested in promoting STEM education in Sri Lanka and is a strong advocate in promoting innovations and soft skills in the curriculum of tertiary education. She has obtained patent for developing value added products using Sri Lankan essential oils and currently she is pursuing a project to develop nutraceutical to control type II diabetics. She was a recipient of presidential awards for pursuing research and the Vice chancellor award for securing highest amount of external research funding from the Faculty of Science in 2017.

Empowering educational dynamics through the transformation of curricula
Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe
PhD (University of London, UK)
Chair and Senior Professor
Department of English
University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Integrating academia and industry for sustainable development
Professor Mangalika Hettiarachchi
PhD (University of Nigeria, Nigeria)
Senior Professor
Department of Zoology and Environmental Management
Faculty of Science
University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Mangalika Hettiarachchi obtained her B.Sc degree in 1978 from Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and joined the same university as a permanent academic staff member in 1979. In 1988, she got her Ph.D degree under a Commonwealth Scholarship, became a Professor in 2005 and a Senior Professor in 2013 and has been serving the Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, University of Kelaniya. Her major areas of research are related to export oriented edible shrimp culture and ornamental fish culture of Sri Lanka.