Sri Lanka

Welcome to the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009)!

The year will be filled with many exciting activities worldwide to celebrate this major event!

The Universe is yours to discover during the IYA 2009: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iya0805/

The IYA 2009 Sri Lanka National Node, together with the Sri Lanka Astronomical Association, Sri Lanka Planetarium, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Astronomy & Space Study Center, University of Moratuwa and University of Colombo, hopes to conduct at least 12 exciting educational and public outreach activities during the year.

Visit the IYA 2009 Sri Lanka web site for more details, including upcoming events: http://aalk.lakdiva.net/iya2009/

Clear skies!

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16th December 2008

Arthur C. Clarke's birth anniversary today

The 91st birth anniversary of world renowned science fiction writer late Vidyajothi Sir Arthur C. Clarke falls today. The Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT) has arranged to celebrate this occasion with an exhibition and a series of seminars at its premises at Katubedda, Moratuwa.

The exhibition will be opened by Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana at 9 a.m. The public can view the exhibition from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The seminars held on this day will cover the following topics. Electronics, e-communication, information technology and space technology.

The programme will also include a lecture on astronomy conducted by Dr. Chandana Jayaratne. Entrance to the exhibition and seminars will be free.

Further information could be obtained from telephone 011-2650838 or 011-2650569. Fax 011-2650462, e-mail info@accimt.ac.lk or web: www.accimt.ac.lk.

From: http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/12/16/news31.asp

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1st December 2008

Leading Indian Astronomer visits Sri Lanka

Prof. Jayant Narlikar, a leading Indian astrophysicist, visits Sri Lanka this week on behalf of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to promote the study of Astronomy. At 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, 4th December he talks on "Why Study Astronomy" at the University of Moratuwa, Department of Electronic & Telecomunication Engineering Seminar Hall 1 (ENTC-1).

He will give two public lectures in Colombo and Kandy on "Facts and Speculations in Cosmology".

On Wednesday, 3rd December at 4:00 p.m. he gives a Guest Public Lecture, at the 64th Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), held at University of Colombo Computer Science Auditorium. On Friday, 5th December at 2:00 p.m. he will talk at the Post Graduate Institute of Science in the University of Peradeniya.

Professor Jayant Narlikar, one of the best-known Indian astrophysicist, was the founding director of the Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), which he headed for 15 years. A remarkable institution that he conceived, founded and nurtured as a common research and resource centre for university scientists from across the country, the IUCAA was his long-cherished dream. It was realised in 1988 as an institution under the Indian University Grants Commission (UGC).

More:
http://www.spacegeneration.org/node/2218

SGAC Calendar:

Free Public Lecture (Colombo): 'Facts and Speculations in Cosmology' by Prof. Jayant Narlikar
http://www.spacegeneration.org/node/2214

Free Public Lecture (Moratuwa): 'Why Study Astronomy?' by Prof. Jayant Narlikar
http://www.spacegeneration.org/node/2219

Free Public Lecture (Kandy): 'Facts and Speculations in Cosmology' by Prof. Jayant Narlikar
http://www.spacegeneration.org/node/2220