Dr. Hemantha Premarathne, a Senior Lecturer from the Department of Social Sciences at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), was exclusively invited to represent Sri Lanka at the prestigious annual convention of the Eurasia Foundation held in Bangkok, Thailand. As the sole representative from the country, Dr. Premaratne’s presence highlights Sri Lanka’s involvement in shaping the future discourse on a post-COVID-19 world. The convention, held from July 31st to August 1st at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Thailand, gathered over 600 academics and scholars from 40 countries from all over the world.
Over the past three years, the Department of Social Sciences at KDU has successfully offered the “Short Course on Cultural Linkages towards an Asian Ideology”, thanks to generous funding from the Eurasia Foundation in Japan. Dr. Hemantha Premarathne, as a key contributor to the development and delivery of this programme, received the exclusive invitation to attend this important international convention. His participation in this event highlights his academic eminence, and it also signifies the university’s commitment to fostering international collaborations and promoting cultural understanding.
As a representative of KDU and Sri Lanka, Dr. Premarathne sees this event as an excellent opportunity to build strong relationships with high-ranking officials from the Eurasia Foundation and global scholars of eminence. By sharing insights and experiences from the Sri Lankan perspective, he aims to enrich discussions and contribute to the collective effort of addressing the challenges and opportunities in a post-COVID-19 world. The convention’s international platform provides KDU with an invaluable opportunity to explore further opportunities for enhancing its international relations and contributing to the global community of scholars.