The Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC), the premier academic and professional body for chemists in Sri Lanka, commemorated its 84th Anniversary and 54th Annual Sessions with a series of prestigious events on the 16th and 17th of June 2025.

The inauguration ceremony took place at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on the 16^th June, with the presence of Prof. Janitha Liyanage, President of IChemC, and President-elect Prof. Emeritus Hema Pathirana. The event was graced by the presence of prominent international delegates from India, including Prof. Uday Maitra, President of the Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) and Professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Prof. Saptarshi Mukherjee from the Department of Chemistry, IISER Bhopal; and Prof. Rojalin Sahu of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, KIIT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of several prestigious awards and prizes, honoring excellence and dedication in both academic and professional spheres. Among the awards presented wereDistinguished Service Award, Yeoman Service Award, Long Service Awards, Chandrasena Memorial Award, Kandiah Memorial Graduateship Award, Professor M.U.S. Sultanbawa Award for Research in Chemistry 2024, CCS Research Awards, All-Island Interschool Chemistry Quiz Prizes, National Chemistry Olympiad Prizes, Graduateship in Chemistry & BSc Hons (Chemical Science) Examinations Scholarships, Prizes, and Awards.

The Chandrasena Memorial Award Lecture was delivered by Prof. A.P. Attanayake, the recipient of this year’s award.

The celebrations continued with the Annual Dinner, held at Marino Beach Hotel, where the induction of the new President, Prof. Emeritus Hema Pathirana, took place in the presence of Past Presidents, Council Members, Members, and Staff of IChemC.

In addition, the Theme Seminar was held on the 17^thof June, providing a platform for international scientific exchange, with several distinguished Indian academics sharing their latest research.Prof. (Dr.) Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor of KIIT, addressed the audience virtually with his insightful talk on “Molecules to Machines: The Convergence of Natural & Engineering Sciences – A Blueprint for Innovations.”Prof. Uday Maitra presented his work on “Rapid Detection of β-Lactamase Expressing Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.”Prof. Saptarshi Mukherjee discussed “Modulation in the Structure, Dynamics, and Enzymatic Activity of an Ordered Protein β-Lactoglobulin through Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation.”Prof. Rojalin Sahu introduced an innovative application titled “Metal Organic Framework Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Powering Electronics.”All speakers delivered their talks in a quite insightful and interesting manner to the audience, which mainly comprised of undergraduates of the IChemC.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the IChemC was also held in the evening, with the participation of its members. The two-day eventswere followed by the technical sessions held at the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Adamantane House in Rajagiriya on the 18^th of June, where many Sri Lankan researchers had the opportunity of presenting their research work and disseminating knowledge among the scientific community. These events stood as a testament to the Institute’s enduring commitment to the development of chemical sciences and professional excellence in Sri Lanka. The Annual Sessions not only honored the contributions of its members but also fostered cross-border collaborations and knowledge sharing with global academic leaders.

Dilhan Jayasinghe
Public Relations Officer (PRO),
Coordinator- Department of Applied Sciences Institute of Chemistry Ceylon