InRO News
University of Peradeniya Hosts Sri Lanka’s First CAPSLE, Advancing Academic Leadership
January 10–14, 2026
The Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya proudly hosted the inaugural Colloquium in Academic Preparation for Sri Lankan Educators (CAPSLE), held from January 10th to 14th, 2026. This historic initiative, the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, was organized through the United States–Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission as the sponsoring organization, with Sivananthan Laboratories, USA serving as the main sponsor and the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya as the host.
The event commenced with a prestigious inauguration ceremony addressed by Prof. Terrence Madhujith, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, alongside world-renowned academic leaders Dr. Bob Easter (President Emeritus, University of Illinois) and Prof. Sivalingam Sivananthan (Distinguished Professor of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago). Their addresses emphasized the importance of global collaboration in higher education.
The concept for CAPSLE was developed and organized by Prof. Bopaya Bidanda (Ernest Roth Professor of Industrial Engineering, University of Pittsburgh; Former President, Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE); Fulbright-Nehru Senior Scholar in India 2023–2024). His presence in Sri Lanka as a Fulbright Specialist in 2026 resulted from a successful application and strategic initiative by the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya. The programme was conducted with strong support from the United States–Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, led by Dr. Patrick McNamara, Executive Director.
The University of Peradeniya played a key role in hosting the event under the coordination of Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Dr. Panduka Neluwala, Faculty Representative for International Relations, with support from the International Relations Office (InRO). Facilities including seminar rooms, auditoriums, participant accommodation, and transportation were provided by the University.
CAPSLE 2026 brought together more than 20 eminent resource persons from local and international academia and industry. The programme was attended by 38 selected participants from 9 Sri Lankan universities, fostering a collaborative and interactive learning environment.
As Sri Lanka’s first colloquium of its kind, CAPSLE focused on strengthening teaching, research, publication, collaboration, and fundraising skills of early-career academics and research assistants in engineering and business disciplines. The programme featured hands-on workshops, panel discussions, lectures, and interactive sessions, including business and research pitch competitions.
By equipping young academics with essential skills to attract research funding and build strong academic careers, CAPSLE 2026 has laid a solid foundation for the future of higher education in Sri Lanka.
More Information:
https://capsle2026.pdn.ac.lk
