Mr. Luxman Siriwardena, the Executive Director, The Pathfinder Foundation and Director, Center for China - Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre and Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage, Director, Center for Indo-Lanka Initiatives and Centre for the  Law of the Sea were appointed as ‘Guest Professors’ at Leshan Normal University, Sichuan Province, China at the recently concluded International Conference on Opportunities and Challenges of Trans-Himalaya Regional Cooperation under Belt and Road Initiatives and Challenges. Admiral Dr. Colombage presented a paper under the title of ‘Maritime Connectivity in the Indian Ocean and Belt and Road Initiatives: Opportunities and Challenges’ at this international conference. Mr. Luxman Siriwardena’s paper on ‘Cultural Exchange and People-to-People Communication Under Belt and Road Initiatives’ was also read at the conference.  The award of Guest Professorships was made by Professor Hu Dan, President of Leshan University and Professor Dai Yonghong, Executive Director of Tarns-Himalayan Studies Center of Leshan Normal University and Director of Bay of Bengal Program at Sichuan University. The awards were made in appreciation of contributions made by the two academics and The Pathfinder Foundation for promotion of China- Sri Lanka relations.

The Pathfinder Foundation is currently in discussion with Professor Dai Yonghong, on joint implementation of a China-Sri Lanka cultural relations project which involves studies and practical actions including exchange of Buddhist monks between the two countries. LSTC, (Leshan Teachers College) which was founded originally in 1978, is one of the premier higher educational institutes for teacher education under the Sichuan Educational Commission & Education Bureau in Sichuan Province of China.

Photo - Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage, Director, Center for Indo-Lanka Initiatives and Centre for the  Law of the Sea Receiving a Guest Professorship from  Professor Hu  Dan, the President of Leshan University