The University of Sri Jayewardenepura has been working tirelessly for the last two years to widen its reach by establishing the new Faculty of Urban and Aquatic Bioresources (FUAB). This Faculty was established with a view to produce professionally qualified graduates and postgraduate workforce that our country needs to face the challenges of a much-needed blue-green bioeconomy.
Urbanization in Sri Lanka continues at an ever-increasing rate, creating an increasing pressure on the natural resources available. Sustainable utilization and development of our urban bioresources should be given high priority in order to minimize the negative consequences of this development process. On the other hand, Sri Lanka is blessed with a variety of aquatic resources that are largely untapped. The wealth of our marine resources extends way beyond the coastal belt, leaving us with a massive exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean. In this background, the future generations of Sri Lanka need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, understand and work towards the sustainable utilization and management of our urban and aquatic bioresources. Understanding this requirement well in advance, the University is aiming to meet this goal by producing professionally qualified graduates for the blue-green bioeconomy, through this new Faculty.
I take this opportunity to congratulate all those who worked hard and lavishly contributed to the establishment of the Faculty of Urban and Aquatic Bioresources. The uniqueness and the beauty of the Faculty lies in the fact that students coming from a common biological science background will be working towards meeting two concepts of a knowledge-based bioeconomy, blue economy and a green economy. I sincerely hope that all new students enrolling for undergraduate degree programme in this Faculty will contribute towards the much-needed knowledge-based bioeconomy through sustainable utilization of our urban and aquatic bioresources. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is indeed glad to be of service to the nation by implementing new professional study programs for the future generations of Sri Lanka.
Senior Professor Sudantha Liyanage
BSc (Hons) (USJ), PhD (Cardiff), C Chem, FRSC, FIChem C, FPRISL
Vice-Chancellor
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Gangodawila, Nugegoda
Sri Lanka