|
| |


|
 NASSL
NEWSLETTER
|
|
National Academy of Sciences of
Sri Lanka
c/o SLAAS 120/10 Vidya Mawata,
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Volume 4 Issue 5
April
- May 2010 |
|
EDITORIAL
Becoming Sustainable
The
time has come for the NASSL to be sustainable especially with
relation to funding aspects. From the address of the NASSL president
at the AGM, it was obvious that we cannot thrive on government grant
in the future. The NASSL and I am sure, many other professional
societies, did not receive the customary government grant for the
last four years. This has drained the reserves of these societies,
where the main income has now become the interest earned from
invested membership fees. The Korean experience was quoted sometime
before and the minister urged for investment of at-least 1% of GDP
of the country in Science and Technology. This did not happen for
obvious reasons. I am sure the minister will try whatever possible
ways and means to obtain more funding for Research & Technology, but
we are not sure about the response he will get from other
responsible parties in the government. As the Academy consists of
many experts of different disciplines, it is time we undertake or
bid for projects as research teams and remit a percentage from such
earnings for the sustainability of the Academy. Today, while many
administrators seem to have become consultants, the scientist in the
Academy is not making use of their professional knowledge and
experience. The secretary of NASSL has provided “food for thought”
by providing information on funding opportunities for the NASSL as
given in this news letter. We hope that the fellows take this matter
seriously as one way of making the Academy sustainable
|
|
|
|
1 |
Editorial |
|
2 |
New Office Bearers & Council Members Elected at AGM |
|
3 |
Two New Fellows and Hon Fellow Elected at the AGM |
|
4 |
Presidential Address |
|
5 |
Know Your fellows |
|
6 |
Follow up of Groundwater workshop |
|
7 |
Funding Opportunities for NASSL |
|
8 |
Contact Information |
|
|
NOTICES/
NEWS
31st
Annual General Meeting Held
The
31st Annual General Meeting of the NASSL was held on 19th
March 2010, at the Wimalasurendra Auditorium, Institute of
Engineers, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. The AGM was followed
by a Fellowship dinner .The
special feature of this years Annual General Meeting was a
presentation by Prof. Sir Arnold
Wolfendale, FRS, Astronomer Royal on
“COSMIC
RAYS, GLOBAL WARMING AND THE ORIGIN OF LIFE’.
The
31st Council of the NASSL
Dr. Locana
Gunaratne was inducted as the President of NASSL. Prof. I.K. Perera
requested the membership to accept his resignation from the office
of General Secretary, for personal reasons. He further expressed his
willingness to continue as a member of the Council and assist the
new General Secretary. Prof. Upali S. Amarasinghe, Professor of
Zoology at University of Kelaniya was appointed as the General
Secretary of the Council.
As Professor
Veranja Karunaratne and Professor L.L. Ratnayake tendered
resignation as Members of the Council and as Professor M.J.S.
Wijeyaratne’s tenure expired, the following fellows were appointed
as Council members for these vacancies.
Prof.
Wijaya Kumar
Dr. Ravi Pereira
Dr.
Siril Wijesundara
The
NASSL Council for year 2010 consists of the following
Office Bearers
Dr. K. Locana
Gunaratne - President
Prof. T.M.
Sunethra Athukorala - Immediate Past President
Dr. Kingsley de
Alwis - Vice President
Prof. Upali S.
Amarasinghe - General Secretary
Prof. Rohini
Hewamanna - Assistant Secretary
Dr. Ranjith
Mahindapala - Treasurer
Prof. J.N.O.
Fernando - Secretary, Foreign Relations
Prof. Ranjith
B. Mapa - Editor
Members
Prof. A.R.P.
Aluwihara - Council Member
Eng. Dr. Mervyn
Gunasekara - Council Member
Prof. Ajith
Abeysekera - Council Member
Prof. T.R.
Ariyaratne - Council Member
Page 2 |
|
Prof. Ira
Thabrew - Council Member
Prof. I.K.
Perera - Council
Member
Prof. Vijaya
Kumar - Council Member
Dr. D.S.A.
Wijesundara - Council Member
Dr. Ravi
Pereira - Council Member
New
Fellows Elected at AGM
The following new fellows were
elected to the Academy
·
Prof. Ajith de Alwis
(University of Moratuwa)
Academic
Discipline: Chemical Engineering
·
Prof. (Mrs.) Nilanthi
Renuka de Silva (University of Kelaniya) Academic Discipline:
Medical Parasitology
Honorary
Fellow Elected at AGM
Professor Sir
Arnold Wolfendale FRS, Astronomer Royal was elected as a Foreign
Fellow/ Honorary Fellow of the Academy at the 31st
Annual General Meeting of the NASSL was held on 19th
March 2010
Presidential
Address
Dr. K. Locana.
Gunaratne was inducted as the president of NASSL for this year at
the AGM held on 31st Annual General Meeting of the NASSL
was held on 19th March 2010. During his presidential
address he stressed that the Academy consist of the most valuable
human resource pool in the country. These members are expert in
various disciplines and are willing to contribute to the national
development. When compared with sister academia as the Royal Society
in Britain or the American Academy, the NASSL is not recognized and
respected by the government. He also stated that the NASSL did not
receive any funds from the government for the last four years. The
political leaders should frequently consult the academy on
nationally important issues. He insisted of a long term vision by
the academy, at-least for 5 years and therefore a cooperate plan
which will help us to get involved with useful work as an
institution but also promote our fellows in national development
strategies. We hope the fellows take note of these ideas and the
council should work towards to fulfill these needs in near future.
KNOW YOUR FELLOWS
The following new Fellows were elected at the last AGM
Prof. Ajith
De Alwis, B.Sc., Ph.D.
Academic
Discipline: Chemical Engineering
Dr. Ajith de
Alwis has been a Professor of Chemical & Processing Engineering at
the University of Moratuwa since 2004, and currently is one of the
two science team
Page 3 |
|
leaders at the
Sri Lanka Institute of nanotechnology. He obtained his B.Sc. degree
in Chemical engineering in Moratuwa with first class honours in1985
and his Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1990 while on Cambridge
University trust Scholarship & Overseas Research Studentship. He was
awarded the 1989 Senior Moulton Medal by the Institution of Chemical
Engineers, UK (best research paper), 1989 SCI Food group Travel
prize by the society of Chemical Industry, UK (research
presentation), 1991 SCI (UK) John Coppock Memorial Fund Award & 1991
Danckwerts-Maxwell Prize (for the best chemical engineering Ph.D.
thesis. Prof. De Alwis has published 47 peer reviewed articles and
book chapters and over 55conference abstracts. He has been the
recipient of
the University
of Moratuwa Research Award from 1008-2007. He was the founder editor
of ‘Chemunique”, and is on the editorial board of IChemeE (UK)
Transactions C Food and Bio-producers Processing journal (European
Journal).
He has served
in over 25 national committees, including those in the Central
Environmental Authority (Technical Advisory), in the Ministry of
Health (Health Care Waste Management) in the Ministry of Forestry
and Environment (standards development and national reporting
systems), Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic
Environmental assessments of the Trincometro development project,
Eco-industrial estate developments in Sri Lanka, 163 MWe combined
cycle power plant, Kerawalapitiya, Lionvert refinery and power plant
, Biyagama EPZ second phase for BOM, Weerawila International
Airport, 300 MWe combined cycle power plat at Kerawalapitiya.
Prof.
(Mrs.) Nilanthi Renuka de Silva, MBBS, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Academic
Discipline: Medical Parasitology
Dr. Nilanthi de
Silva has been the Professor of Parasitology at the University of
Kelaniya since 2003 and was Head of Parasitology Department for
several years and currently heads the faculty’s Medical Education
Center. She has also served as a consultant to the Ministry of
Higher education on Policy and Strategy Development and to the
national Education commission on the project “Inter-sectorial Study
of Education and Health”, and as a resource person in many training
workshops organized by the Quality assurance and Accreditation
Council of the UGC.
She has been
the recipient of Presidential Research Awards, FAIMER International
Fellowship, National Science Foundation Merit Award, Patrick Buxton
award, Commonwealths Medical Fellowship, S.E. Seneviratne Award,
Prof. Rajasooriya Award, Sir Frank Gunasekara Award and E.M.
Wijerama award. She is also a member of the WHO’s Food-borne Disease
Epidemiology Reference Group and as Associate Editor of the open
aces Journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Disease for the past three
years. She has published 53 articles in peer reviewed journals and
has presented 58 research papers at international and national
research symposia and contributed to three text book chapters. She
is a member of three professional
Page 4 |
|
associations
and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
She is currently Chairperson of the International Advisory Board
of the Partnership for Child Development at Imperial college,
London: the WHO working group on “Access to Medicine for Neglected
Tropical Diseases’; and the Mebendazole Advisory Committee, an
independent group of experts that advice the US-based NGO Children
Without Worms.
Prof. Upali
Amarasinghe honored by a British University
Professor
Upali Amarasinghe from the Department of Zoology of University of
Kelaniya is awarded a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.), by the Bangor
University in North Wales, UK to honour his life-long scientific
contribution to fisheries biology and development of inland
fisheries in Sri Lanka. This is another instance of international
recognition of research carried out by a Sri Lankan scientist. Upali
has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy in 2009, and is
presently the General Secretary of the Council
Groundwater
In Sri Lanka- A Most Precious But Highly Threatened Resource
By A. Dennis N. Fernando
The follow up
of the Anuradhapura Workshop on Ground Water Resources was held at
the IUCN Office, Colombo on 22 January, 2010. The workshop was
attended by a number of Fellows of the Academy. Discussions centered
on suggestions for a national ground water policy in the context of
an overall national water policy. The main points discussed at the
workshop are summarized below:
1.
The formulation of a ground water policy should not be dealt
with in isolation but in the context of all related forms of water
resources, namely, rainfall, surface water and ground water as all
are necessary for human survival and agriculture and are often used
conjunctively;
2.
Ground water resources in specific areas vary and have been
indicated in the book on “The Ground Water Resources of Sri Lanka”
published by the Ministry of Irrigation, Power and Highways in 1973;
3.
The importance of forest conservation was emphasized as it is
essential to ensure regulated surface water and groundwater flows
into reservoirs;
4.
The original objective of the Mahaweli River Basin
Development was for irrigation, and power was only a secondary
benefit. Generation of hydropower was to be only from irrigation
issues. Unfortunately this policy has been reversed over the years
and today some farmers are even committing suicide due to the lack
of water for irrigation;
5.
Industrial pollution of water bodies has to be prevented as
it renders both
surface and ground water unsuitable for domestic use;
Page 5 |
|
1. The
city of Colombo is underlain by Pliocene sands in 80% of its area.
Ground water is available within 20 feet below ground level.
Although not fit for drinking, the groundwater is suitable for
flushing of toilets, home gardening and washing of cars. If only
groundwater is utilized for these purposes, we could save 50% of the
current potable water supply and provide potable water to another
50% of households without any increase in the capacity of the water
supply department;
2.
Over-pumping of ground water in Jaffna Peninsula and in the
Kalpitiya Peninsula has caused salt water intrusion which is a
problem that needs to be addressed;
3.
The necessity to establish a Groundwater Council consisting
of groundwater experts for consultation was discussed;
4.
The compilation of a directory of all publications on
groundwater for reference purposes was proposed;
5.
In order to ensure rational use of our scarce water resources
we recommend dividing the country into Dissawanies or Districts as
practiced by our ancients in their wisdom and recommended by the OPA
and CIMOGG.
Funding
Opportunities for the Academy
Prof. Upali
Amarasinghe
According to
the provisions of the Act of Incorporation and the Rules of the
Academy [Articles 3(a) and 4.2(a)], the Academy has powers to
undertake research and receive grants in cash or otherwise from
local or foreign sources. As discussed at the informal
meeting of
Council members that was held on the 10th May at NASSL office, there
is a necessity to find funds for the Academy for its survival. Below
are recent advertisement of funding opportunities.
This has the
ceiling of Sterling Pounds 60,000. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/working-with-dfid/funding-opportunities/not-for-profit
organisations/development-innovation-fund-dif/frequently-asked-questions/
Maximum funding per application: £60k. It is open to NGOs with
average annual turnover of under £500k over the last 3 years. One
would need to demonstrate eligibility, with approved accounts etc.
A key part of the project is UK public awareness raising – which can
most easily be done via one or more UK partners.
DFID-Development
Innovation Fund
DFID's White
Paper, 'Eliminating World Poverty: Building Our Common Future',
outlines DFID's approach to working with civil society. It
highlights the fact that DFID recognizes that the work of
governments alone will not be enough to eliminate world poverty and
that to achieve further and faster poverty reduction, governments
must work closely with citizens and civil society groups. The White
Paper states that over the next few years DFID will increase its
work with
Page 6 |
|
organizations
in the UK and overseas who play an important role in development.
This will include groups with who do not currently benefit from DFID
support. Many of these groups are involved in supporting very small
scale, often localized activities which do not meet the criteria we
have for our existing centrally managed civil society funding
schemes, such as the Partnership Programme Arrangements (PPA) and
Civil Society Challenge Fund (CSCF). To address this, DFID has
established a new funding stream aimed at community based
organizations involved in providing specific small scale, one-off
support that directly targets poverty in the developing world and
includes a significant development awareness component in the UK.
The Fund will be operational for an initial 16 months from 2010. The
Fund is intended to offer funding opportunities to not for profit
organizations but is not intended to replace or overlap with other
DFID funding mechanisms.
Eligibility
a. The fund is open to any not for profit organization - you do
not have to be
based
in the UK. We will consider proposals from not for profit groups
from
any
country in
the
world.
b. The Fund is open to any not for profit organization
c. We will consider proposals for work in any developing country
You must also
send
a. A copy
of whatever documentation you have which could be described as your
organization’s constitution
b. Your organization’s most recent annual audited or approved
accounts
c. A short background note on your organization
d. A budget
showing how you intend to spend the grant requested, in the format
provided.
e.. A maximum 1 page curriculum vitae of the lead person carrying
out the project.
Application form [DOC - 105 KB]- Budget form [DOC - 41 KB]
You must send you application to
dif-applications@ltsi.co.uk
More info:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/dif
Programs
& Fellowships
ICTP
Programme
International Advanced School
on Space Weather Modelling -Applications
18 – 29 October 2010 The Application form can be accessed at the
activity website:
http://agenda.ictp.it/smr.php?2171
Mathematics Research Fellowships
2011
The Abdus Salam
International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) invites
applications for a Senior Post – Doctoral Fellowship. The fellowship
is open to outstanding young mathematicians form around the world,
and has especially attractive terms with a total tenure of 2+3
years, starting in 2011.Candidates should apply online at : http://math.ictp.it/fellowships/Senior_Postdoctoral_Fellowship.html
Page 7 |
|
Contact
Us:
President:
Dr. K. Locana.
Gunaratne
Tel:
(011) 2588156
E-mail:
locana@sltnet.lk
Vice President:
Dr. Kingsley De Alwis
Tel:
(011)-266-5427
E-mail:
kingsleydealwis@yahoo.com
General Secretary: Prof. Upali Amarasinghe
Tel: (011)
290-3397
E-mail: zoousa@kln.ac.lk;
upali54@gmail.com
Treasurer: Dr.
Ranjith Mahindapala
Tel:
(011) 268 - 2416
E-mail: ranjith@iucnsl.org
Editor:
Prof. Ranjith B. Mapa
Tel:
(011) 263 - 5201
E-mail:
maparb@yahoo.com |

|