As the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna, it gives me immense pleasure to share this message on the featured web page of the China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Education and Research (CSL-CER). In pursuit of the vision of the University of Ruhuna: to be the prime intellectual thrust of the nation, various initiatives have been undertaken to broaden and strengthen the research and educational performance of the university. Among these, international collaborations and academic mobility are among the topmost priorities, catalyzing and enhancing both scientific and academic endeavors.

China, with one of the world’s largest educational systems and rapidly advancing research context, offers valuable opportunities for academic cooperation. In light of the long-standing mutual relationship between Sri Lanka and China, the CSL-CER was established in 2014 at the University of Ruhuna, marking a significant milestone in the university’s journey toward international academic collaborations.

The CSL-CER comprises four key units, namely the Water Environment and Water Supply Safety Lab, the Marine Environment and Climate Effect Lab, the Ecosystem and Biodiversity Lab, and the Personnel Training and Education Office. This well-structured framework of the CSL-CER addresses a wide spectrum of thematic areas through both academic exchange and interdisciplinary research.

I sincerely appreciate the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) for their invaluable partnership. Additionally, I acknowledge all the international and local counterparts, whose support continues to strengthen the mission of CSL-CER.

I wish CSL-CER continued success in sustaining this bilateral partnership, yielding inspiring outcomes in both academic and research paradigms.