The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Peradeniya proudly hosted the inaugural Colloquium in Academic Preparation for Sri Lankan Educators (CAPSLE), a grand event held from January 10th to 14th, 2026. This historic initiative, the first of its kind in the island, was brought to life through the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission as the sponsoring organization, with Sivananthan Laboratories, USA serving as the main sponsor and Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya as the host.
The event began with a prestigious inauguration ceremony addressed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Prof. Terrence Madhujith, 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 set a strong academic tone for the colloquium, highlighting 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 as a Fulbright Specialist in Sri Lanka for 2026 was the result of a successful application and strategic initiative by the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya. The event was executed with the strong support of the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, led by Executive Director Dr. Patrick McNamara, along with a team of multiple scholars who contributed to the planning.
The University of Peradeniya played a crucial role in hosting the event. Under the coordination of the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake, and Dr. Panduka Neluwala (Faculty Representative for International Relations) with the support from the International Relations Office (InRO). This included hosting the sessions in faculty seminar rooms, auditorium and providing accommodation for local participants in university guest houses, as well as transportation.
CAPSLE 2026 gathered more than 20 eminent resource persons from both local and international industries and academia, all of whom traveled to Peradeniya to share their expertise. The sessions were attended by 38 selected participants representing 9 Sri Lankan universities, creating a rich environment for collaborative learning across institutions.
As Sri Lanka’s first colloquium of its kind, CAPSLE was designed to build the teaching, research, publication, collaboration, and fundraising skills of junior faculty members and research assistants in engineering and business. The program utilized active, hands-on learning through a series of panels, lectures, and workshops focused on specific topics to assist young, promising academics.
The event culminated in highly interactive sessions, including business and research pitch competitions, where participants demonstrated their ability to identify impactful research problems relevant to the Sri Lankan context and pitch them effectively. By equipping early career academics with the tools to attract research grants and launch strong careers, CAPSLE 2026 has laid a solid foundation for the future of higher education in Sri Lanka.
For more details on the event, please visit: https://capsle2026.pdn.ac.lk