Ceremonial Opening of K. K. Y. W. Perera Mobile Communications Laboratory

The Department of Electronic and Telecommunication  of the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, recently celebrated the opening of its new K. K. Y. W. Perera Mobile Communications Laboratory, which was established in collaboration with SLT-Mobitel and Huawei Technologies on 12 December 2022. The lab was named in honor of Vidyajothi Prof. K. K. Y. W. Perera, the founding head of the Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering and the current chancellor of the university.

The ceremonial opening was attended by a number of university officials, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. N. D. Gunawardena, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. D. P. Chandrasekara, and the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Asoka Perera. The event was also attended by representatives from SLT-Mobitel, including Mr. Rasantha Hettithanthrige, the Chief Technology Officer of  Mobitel (Pvt.) Ltd., who took pioneered the establishment of the laboratory, and Mr. Raveendra Manivelwadu, as well as Mr. Rohan Fernando, Chairman of SLT-Mobitel, Mr. Lalith Mohan Seneviratne, Group Chief Executive Officer of SLT-Mobitel, Mr. Janaka Abeysinghe, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom, Mr. Chandika Vitharana, Chief Executive Officer of Mobitel (Pvt.) Ltd., Mr. Saman Abeysekera, Chief Operating Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom, Mr. Prabhath Dahanayake, Chief Marketing Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom, Mr. Sudharshana Geeganage, Chief Financial Officer of Mobitel (Pvt.) Ltd., and Mr. Saman Perera, Group Chief Information Officer of SLT-Mobitel. Representatives from Huawei Sri Lanka also attended the event, including Mr. Tony Lee, Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Indika De Zoysa, Strategic Advisor, and Mr. Nadun Gunawardena. The ceremony was also attended by student representatives, including the President of the Electronic Club and four student network administrators.

The mobile communication laboratory will be an invaluable resource for teaching wireless communication and telecommunication core networks. As the demand for skilled professionals in these fields continues to grow, the laboratory will provide students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real-world environment. This will not only enhance their knowledge and skills, but also prepare them for successful careers in the telecommunications industry.

In addition to providing practical experience, the mobile communication laboratory will also allow students to keep pace with the latest developments in the field. With the rapid advancement of technology, it is essential for students to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and methods used in the telecommunications industry. The laboratory will provide them with the opportunity to learn about and experiment with the latest technologies and innovations.

Overall, the establishment of the K. K. Y. W. Perera Mobile Communications Laboratory is a major milestone for the University of Moratuwa. It will provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and experience, and prepare them for successful careers in the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry. The university community is excited to see the impact this facility will have on the education and training of its students. Special thanks go to Dr. Jayathu Samarawickrama for coordinating the establishment of the laboratory on behalf of the department.