SLT invests on ICoRN Laboratory at Peradeniya university

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) recently established an innovative Information and Communication Research Network (ICoRN) Laboratory at the University of Peradeniya.

The broad vision of this project is to provide a platform for researchers from a wide variety of disciplines to come together to undertake research and development activities.

“The creation of the ICoRN laboratory by SLT is in acknowledgment of the importance of creating a network, which will help to further enhance ICT research and development in the country, fostering an unprecedented range of avenues for global socio economic development,” an SLT official said.

Shoji Takahashi, CEO of SLT speaking on the partnership and the long-term objectives of the initiative, said; “The broad vision of this ICoRN project is to provide a platform for researchers from various disciplines to come together to take part in research and development activities. Being a pioneer university with highest diversity in areas of study in the country, the University of Peradeniya has provided appropriate environment for the country’s premier communications provider, Sri Lanka Telecom, to come up with a valuable idea to establish a multi-disciplinary research laboratory for ICT R&D.”

Also with the growing need for new innovations and developments in ICT to match the rising expectations of humans as well as to make advances in ICT itself, this initiative helps to bridge the gap between the corporate sector and the academic arena, which usually operate independently of each other, officials said.

Prof. H. Abeygunawardena, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, said, “University-industry collaboration has been of great importance today more than ever before due to the fast evolving nature of industry as well as industrial practices. Most developments are taking place and the directions which need the intensive use of knowledge and as a result high quality human resources become a vital need for the success of any industry. Furthermore, as important partners in human resources development in the country universities always have to face the challenge of maintaining academic programs which cater the needs of the country. Traditional models of education are becoming less and less capable in providing assistance to educational institutes to face the challenges of aforementioned nature and consequently the gap between human resources in-demand and available widens.”

“I believe that the establishment of ICoRN laboratory in University of Peradeniya marks the dawn of a new era in ICT research and development in Sri Lanka,” he added.