Horizon Campus launches the country’s first ever Postgraduate Diploma in Food Safety, Animal and Plant Hygiene

Horizon Campus, Malabe was established in 2011 and currently offers UGC and Ministry of Higher Education approved degree programs and partnering with many global universities and institutions.

Following the current requirements identified in the food sector to ensure food safety and enhance global food trade, a Postgraduate Diploma in Food Safety, Animal and Plant Hygiene has been developed by the Horizon Campus Malabe in collaboration with the Institute of Food Science & Technology Sri Lanka. This is incidentally is the first ever Postgraduate Diploma in Food Safety, Animal and Plant Hygiene to be launched in the country.

The objective of the program is to strengthen the knowledge and attitudes of those engaged in our expanding food industry to be globally competitive in offering their services.

This Postgraduate Diploma was designed and developed by Emeritus Professor Upali Samarajeewa based on his international expertise and experience to fulfill the need of the future food industry. Prof. Samarajeewa is the current chairman of Board of Governors in the Institute of Food Science & Technology Sri Lanka.

Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senaratne - Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine was the chief guest at this occasion. Also gracing the event was Prof. K.K.D.S Ranaweera - President of the Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka, Mr. Upul Daranagama, Chairman, Horizon Group, Mr. Ajitha Wanasinghe – CEO, Horizon Campus, Prof. Upali Samarajeewa Chairman of the Governing Board of the Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka, Dr. Ruwan Perera – Acting Vice Chancellor, Horizon Campus , Dr. Lekha Wanasakera – Dean, Faculty of Science and Miss Nayani Costa Head of Marketing at Horizon Campus .

The launch ceremony was also attended by many of the decision makers of organizations in the Food Industry, Plantations and Exports that included Chairmans, Managing Directors, Heads of Human Resources and Heads of Quality Assurance.

Sri Lanka being a signatory to the Agreements of the World Trade Organization, is expected to maintain international standards in assuring food safety at export and import, in producing and processing of foods locally and in catering services. This requires a knowledgeable work that has a clear understanding of food safety principles and their applications based on sound science, in line with the developed countries.

Horizon campus backed by it’s expert panel of lecturers and faculty members in this sphere, intends to play a key role in producing the necessary personnel needed for this sector and help Sri Lanka attain it’s position as a KnowledgeEconomy that is on par with other leading industrialized countries.