Video: Prof. A. Senarathne

 

The Opinion Leader video series was one of the activations planned for the Global Week to #Act4SDGs. Joining the global mobilization, the G17 University Ambassadors Consortium (UAC) Sri Lanka - University of Peradeniya spoke to Professor Atula Senaratne to gather his expert opinion.

 

Our guest speaker, Prof. Atula Senarathne, holds a B.Sc. degree in Geology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and a M.Sc. degree in Environmental Technology from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London. He obtained his PhD Degree from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.

 

He was responsible for two new mineral discoveries, Gold-Graphite (2019) in Seruwila and the largest iron ore deposit in Sri Lanka, in 2001. From August 2012 to the end of July 2015, he held the highest position in the University of Peradeniya, the post of Vice-Chancellor.

 

As such, as a leading expert for the Environmental Sciences in Sri Lanka, Prof. Atula Senarathne shared his opinion on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the responsibility of Sri Lankan youth in achieving sustainability. He provided an informative account on climate change and related global issues.

 

In addition, he shared his personal view that undergraduates in the country are starting to act like machines, with very little concern about how to put the SDGs into practice. In that regard, he expressed the importance of our actions as University Ambassadors and stated that our efforts and interest in achieving the SDGs are admirable. An equally important aspect of his speech was how we can use the knowledge and experience we gain from years of schooling and university to successfully reach the Global Goals.

 

We are very thankful to Prof. Atula Senarathne for his valuable contribution!