Inauguration Ceremony for the Launch of the Action Plan – 2023 of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon
An inauguration ceremony organised by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC) on the following action plans of the year 2022/23, was held on 25th January 2023 at Water’s Edge Hotel, Battaramulla:
1. Inauguration of Secretariat for Professional Practice of Chemistry.
2. Launching Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
3. Launching of the VChemEX 2023 - Virtual Educational Industrial Exhibition and Trade Fair.
4. Introduction of proposal postgraduate degrees of Chemical Science.
5. Establishment of a Chemical Laboratory and Chemist
Training Centre.
Hon. Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education and Leader of the House of Parliament graced the event as the Chief Guest while Prof. Sirimali Fernando participated as the Guest of Honour. The welcome and the introductory address for the ceremony was delivered by the President of IChemC 2022/2023, Mr N. M. S. Hettigedara, emphasising the continuous professional development of chemists who can play a vital role in the development of the economy as well as in achieving the sustainable development goals.
Hon. Dr. Susil Premajayantha addressed the gathering, congratulating President and the Council of IChemC on inaugurating activities that would widely contribute to the economic development through professional development of chemists and quality improvement of the chemical industries in the country. He also emphasizes that the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goals of the agenda 2030 of the United Nations as a member country of IUPAC and as a professional organisation in Chemistry. As the Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Susil Premajayantha, emphasizing on Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, expressed the need to change the educational system which has not been done for many years.
Mr. Hettigedara in his speech explained that formation of the National Secretariat enables to create a group of chemistry professionals to be responsible to certify the quality of raw materials and industrial products, as well as authorised persons to be regulated on handling and disposal of chemicals in the country. Furthermore Mr. Hettigedara introduced VChemEX 2023 as a platform to promote the industrial products of manufacturing companies, while enhancing the consumer protection by providing product information such as raw materials, processors and quality assurance. This exhibition will be conducted for a period of one year.