The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the University of Moratuwa, the National Center for Non-Destructive Testing (NCNDT) - Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, and Foundry Development and Services Institute (FDSI) successfully completed the workshop on Opto-mechanics and Introduction to Non-destructive Testing Methods at NCNDT premises in Kelaniya on 26th October. The workshop was concluded successfully with the participation of over 50 technical personnel from some of the leading manufacturing and exporting companies in Sri Lanka.

The objective of this workshop was to enhance the technical knowledge of opto-mechanics and introduce nondestructive testing methods to make local products more competitive in foreign markets in order to target new opportunities in the export market.

Expressing his views about this emerging industry sector, Dr. S. Amarasinghe, Senior Lecturer attached to the Department of Material Science and Engineering, the University of Moratuwa, remarked on a positive note that a high-tech industry like optomechanics technology can be introduced to countries like Sri Lanka successfully. “We are trying to enter an optomechanics industry that is developing towards Protonic. Protonic means next generation electronics,” Dr. Amarasinghe pointed out.Moreover, he stated that the main reason for being unable to enter the export market from this sector was the lack of awareness about market opportunities that exist for this industry in the global marketplace.

Given the tremendous success of the workshop and the positive feedback, The EDB in collaboration with, NCNDT and University of Moratuwa are keen to expand this workshop into a multi-phased programme in the future. Dr. D Attygalle, Senior Lectuter- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Moratuwa University and Mechanical Design Engineer Mr. Oscar Weerasekara together with Dr. S. Amarasinghe conducted presentations during the workshop..

When it comes to the field of Advanced Optics, the current global market demand is estimated at around US$ 250 billion and it is projected that it will rise to nearly US$ 500 billion by 2028.

NCNDT of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) is the pioneer NDT Service provider in Sri Lanka. It provides NDT training and inspection services to government and private sector industries, as well as welder qualifications and certification services. The participants during the workshop gathered knowledge and experience about the services offered by the NCNDT.

A milestone in industry – academia collaboration was reached recently when Teejay Lanka PLC extended its partnership with the University of Moratuwa for two more years, a period that will encompass the 10^th anniversary of the relationship.

The decade-long collaboration between the Sri Lanka’s first multinational textile manufacturer and the country’s largest provider of manpower training for the textile and clothing industry has led to closer integration of curricula with industry needs and the growth of the annual Graduation Fashion Show of the University’s Department of Textile and Clothing Technology into a mega event. Notably, Teejay’s designers are all graduates of Fashion Design from the University of Moratuwa.

Under the terms of the extended Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations, Teejay will continue to provide industrial placements and fostering schemes for Fashion Design and Product Development and Textile Engineering students of the University, and facilitate short-term industry placements for foreign students affiliated to the University through academic linkage programmes.

Teejay will also provide knit fabric, yarn samples and hangers, free of charge, to the University of Moratuwa for education purposes. Additionally, as customary, the company will sponsor the Annual Graduation Fashion Show of the graduates of the Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design and Product Development. The event is a platform for batches of final-year students to showcase their innovative collections of apparel lines and win awards.

In a move to create a batch of students who are career-ready, Teejay will also hold workshops on general management, career development, marketing and business strategy development, leadership, sustainability and textile, cost analysis and basic finance, branding, and other industry-specific topics and personal development goals for these students.

In return, the University will extend its knowledge and support to strengthen in-house design and technical expertise of Teejay through a series of workshops that will focus on a wide range of co-current industry topics while acting as advisors to the company to develop new products for identified clientele. The university will also provide insights on fashion trends, sustainable fashion, and cost and waste reduction as well as expertise on developing range plans, mood boards, designing, innovative testing methods, research on fabric and future-fabric manufacture and development methodologies.

Furthermore, the university has agreed to release members of its staff for limited periods, to be employed by Teejay to further strengthen the partnership.

Commenting on the longstanding relationship between the organisations, Teejay Lanka CEO Mr Pubudu De Silva said: “This partnership has contributed towards shaping the futures of students interested in the apparel and textile sectors, through the provision of professional guidance and practical exposure to business practices. Teejay Group's journey thus far is one of inclusive growth and constant innovation. As the first knit fabric provider in South Asia with manufacturing facilities in India and Sri Lanka, we are conscious of our role in driving the industry forward and enriching the businesses of our customers, suppliers and diverse stakeholders. This MoU is an important element of this mission.”

Teejay Lanka was the first textile manufacturer in Sri Lanka to receive membership of the US Cotton Trust Protocol, and is a public quoted company with 40 per cent public ownership. The company is backed by Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter Brandix Lanka which has a 32 per cent stake. Pacific Textiles of Hong Kong, whose key shareholder is the Tokyo Stock Exchange listed Toray Industries Inc., owns 27 per cent of Teejay Lanka.

The Company has been adjudged the Best Textile Exporter in Sri Lanka at the Presidential Export Awards presented by the Export Development Board (EDB) and has been named among the 100 Most Respected Companies in Sri Lanka by LMD.

An ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007 compliant company and the first in the industry to develop green fabric, Teejay has been listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) since 2011 and was included in the S&P Top 20 Index in Sri Lanka. The Company has also been named among the Forbes ‘200 Best under a Billion in Asia’ and been recognised as the ‘International Textile Firm of the Year’ and the ‘International Dyer and Finisher’ by World Textile Institute, London.

Photo caption: Teejay Lanka PLC CEO Mr Pubudu De Silva (right) and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa Prof. N. D. Gunawardena exchange the MoU on the extension of the partnership between the two organisations.