CSSL joins ICTA’s Northern Roadshow with GenZ Chapter launch at Jaffna University

CSSL President Damith Hettihewa

University of Technology Sydney Associate Dean Prof. Michael Blumenstein

ICTA CEO Eng. Mahinda B. Herath

ICTA Director – Startup Ecosystem Development Sachindra Samararatne

The Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) launched its second GenZ Chapter at University of Jaffna to mark the Northern Roadshow organised by Digital Economy Team of Information and Communication Technology (ICTA). 

Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) partnered with CSSL to extend an opportunity for telecommunication company CEOs to interact with students of University of Jaffna and other CSSL GenZ Chapters.

CSSL undergraduate chapters are branded as CSSL GenZ chapters and will function as mini-computer societies in each university. Computer Society of Sri Lanka President Damith Hettihewa and Patron of University of CSSL GenZ Chapter Dr. Thabotharan Kathurawelu signed the agreement by adding respective digital signatures online to launch the CSSL Student Chapter of University of Jaffna.

CSSL President Eng. Damith Hettihewa welcomed the dignitaries from academia, ICTA, TRCSL, industry and highlighted the objectives of forming CSSL GenZ Chapters. The first objective as outlined by Hettihewa is engaging with the future ICT professionals at an early stage, nurturing future leaders, fostering professionalism and ethics amongst the undergraduate community and the second objective is addressing the urgent need to create the awareness amongst the computing students about the unique opportunity for leveraging Industry 4.0 to become a wealthy nation. 

The highlight of CSSL second GenZ chapter launch at Jaffna University was the keynote address delivered by University of Technology Sydney Associate Dean Professor Michael Blumenstein to mark the occasion. Professor Michael Blumenstein delivered the keynote presentation all the way from Australia on the topic Artificial Intelligence (AI) myths debunked – How AI is transforming industry for the global good which was keenly received by an online audience exceeding 240 participants.

ICTA CEO Eng. Mahinda B. Herath extended ICTA’s best wishes to CSSL and University of Jaffna. Eng. Herath also highlighted that ICTA’s digital economy team selected the Northern Cluster for its first regional roadshow considering the potential in Jaffna and the Northern Province for ICT-based economic development. ICTA Director – Startup Ecosystem Development Sachindra Samararatne shared the concept of Entrepreneurial University with the GenZ Community.

The Computer Society of Sri Lanka (www. CSSL.lk) which was established in 1976 is the apex body representing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in Sri Lanka. The CSSL is also a member of the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) and International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP). CSSL is a provisional signatory to the Seoul Accord, an internationally acclaimed degree accreditation program through which CSSL brings international standards on ICT related degrees to Sri Lanka.