At a ceremony held at AIT on 8 May 2014, Mr. Abeysekera also said that
this scholarship will help the student work work on a thesis dealing
with real life problems. The company will also try and offer more
opportunities to AIT students, he added.
Receiving the contribution, AIT’s Interim President Prof. Worsak
Kanok-Nukulchai cited the donation as a good example of AIT’s
partnership with the private sector. He stated that ever since its
inception, AIT has been working with governments, but during the past
two years, it has initiated a greater engagement with private
enterprises, Prof. Worsak said. He added that AIT’s Interim Vice
President for Resource Development, Prof. Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto is now
focussing on promoting AIT’s relationship with the industrial
sector.
Thanking the donor, Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Director, Fundraising and
Interim Head, Alumni Affairs stated that though Mr. Abeysekera has been
associated with AIT for a long time, this is the first time that a
formal partnership has been initiated.
Dr. Abdul Salam of Energy Field of Study, School of Environment,
Resources and Development (SERD), AIT, mentioned that they had been
offering expertise to Bhagya Enterprises in designing solar drying
equipment.
Dr. Salam also introduced Mr. Abeysekera to the facilities at AIT’s
Energy Park. Ms. Lucena Dante Talaid, Program Officer, Fundraising; and
Ms. Sitahng Puttha, Administrative Officer, AIT Alumni Affairs Office
also joined the meeting.
