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On Tuesday, 7th April 2026, the ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ hosted a delegation from the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives at the Registrar's Boardroom. The delegation included Ms. Léonie Dauchy, an intern in the Political Section of the French Embassy and a final-year student at the École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, and Ms. Anaïs Delbarre, Attaché for educational, academic, and scientific cooperation at the Embassy and representative of Campus France Sri Lanka.

Representing the University were Prof. (Mrs.) Dileeka Dias (Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor), Prof. J.M.A. Manatunge (Dean, Faculty of Engineering), Prof. (Mrs.) T.C. Sandanayake (Acting Dean, Faculty of Information Technology), Dr. S. Thayaparan (Head, Department of Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering), Dr. T. Uthayasanker (Head, Department of Computer Science and Engineering), Dr. G.V.I. Samaradivakara (Acting Director, International Relations), and Ms. Y.S. Karunarathne (Assistant Registrar, External Affairs, Publicity and International Student Promotion Division).

The meeting focused on enhancing academic collaboration and promoting international student engagement between the ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ and French institutions.

The ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ welcomed Dr. Parvinder Arora, Dean of the Faculty of Management at Laurentian University, Canada, on 24^th March 2026 to explore opportunities for academic collaboration.

The meeting was attended by Professor N.D. Gunawardena (Vice-Chancellor), Professor G.D. Samarasinghe (Dean, Faculty of Business), Dr. (Ms.) T.S. De Silva (Head, Department of Decision Sciences), Dr. G.V.I. Samaradivakara (Acting Director, International Relations), Professor S.W.S.B. Dasanayaka (Senior Professor), Ms. Y.S. Karunarathne (Assistant Registrar, External Affairs, Publicity and International Student Promotion Division), and Ms. W.M.P.K. Weerasinghe (Lecturer).

Discussions focused on strengthening international partnerships, student mobility, and joint academic initiatives. A key highlight was the proposal to introduce a Graduate Diploma Pathway Programme at UoM, enabling students to progress to Master’s degree programmes at Laurentian University, with a flexible dual-pathway option for local continuation.

Additional areas of collaboration included student exchanges, visiting faculty (including block teaching), joint research, credit transfer arrangements, and participation in academic events.

Both institutions identified strong alignment in academic strengths, creating a solid foundation for future collaboration. Laurentian University will share draft Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), while both parties will begin preliminary curriculum development. Subject to approvals, the proposed programmes are expected to commence as early as 2027.

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