Archives: ifstsl - Past Activities

A seminar for Food Science and Technology undergraduates was conducted successfully from 8.30 am to 11.30 am on 4th August 2023 at Mihilaka Medura. Mr. Chamila Senerathne, General Manager HR at CBL Group, Mr. Chalindra Pathirana, Head of Regulatory & Scientific Affairs at Nestle Lanka PLC, Mr. Janaka Weerasuriya, Group Food Safety Manager at Jiffy Products served as resource persons in this event and a very fruitful discussion was held and the participants could establish a link with the industry personnel.

The inter-university quiz was conducted on 06th of August 2023 at Mihilaka Medura. Food Science and Technology undergraduates from Wayamba, Peradeniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, Sabaragamuwa, Ruhuna, and Rajarata universities have participated and Dr. Sujeewa Gunaratne served as the quiz master. The event was coordinated by Ms. Anjalee Omalka & Prof.Niranjala Perera. The University of Peradeniya team won the best team award. Ms. Chathuri Hettiarachchi, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka won the best individual performer at the Inter-University Quiz 2023.

This time the industrial seminar was organized with the support of Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services and had a great number of participants. The event was held from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm on 4th August 2023 at Mihilaka Medura. This year the theme was “Leveraging Agriculture and Technology for Food Security”. Two eminent scientists namely Senior Prof. and Chair KKDS Ranaweera and Prof GAP Chandrasekara contributed as resource persons from academia while from the industry Mr. Mario de Alwis, Managing Director, Ma’s Tropical Food Processing Pvt Ltd., Mr. Kushan Amarasinghe, CEO, Finagle Lanka. Mr. Dammika Gunasekara served as the moderator of the event.

IFSTSL has initiated a consultancy program for SMEs in the food industry who are looking for support in different aspects of their businesses, i.e: processing technology, qualify and safety, hygiene, packaging, labelling etc. A series of workshops will be conducted under the theme ‘Becoming a successful entrepreneur’ to provide general consultancy, in addition to the case-specific tailor-made sessions. The very first workshop of the series ‘Opportunities for food SMEs’ was held on May 31st, 2023. The SMEs who are currently engaged in the food-related industries as well as people who are seeking information to enter into the business participated.

කුඩා හා මධ්‍ය පරිමාණ ව්‍යවසායකයන් සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලංකා ආහාර විද්‍යා හා තාක්ෂණ ආයතනය සහාය වන්නේ කෙසේද ?

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VrGIzwuQYFeHB5ROYp4hikfT0HLKuqaq?usp=sharing

The Institute of Food Science & Technology Sri Lanka organizes a FREE WEBINAR to be held on World Food Safety Day 2023.
All interested individuals are kindly invited to be a part of this webinar.

Speakers

• Prof. Conrad Perera – Member of the Food Safety Working Group of IUFoST & Prof at University of Auckland, NZ
• Emeritus Prof. Upali Samarajeewa
• Mr. K. A. Anil – Acting Director Scientific Standard Division, SLSI
• Mr. S. Nagaiya Read. Asst. Director Food Control Administration Unit, Ministry of Health

Moderator – Mr.Umesh Rajapaksha

• Date : June 07th 2023
• Time : 9:00 am – 12.30 pm

Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka (IFSTSL) presents a one-day workshop series to provide consultancy for SMEs in the food industry who are looking for support in processing technology, packaging, quality, safety, hygiene, etc.

Please refer to the flyer below for more information.

Processing Solutions to Face Current Food Crises

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Safer food for better health – 07th June , 2022

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A half a day food safety awareness seminar was organized by Ms.Anjalee Omalka on behalf of IFSTSL on 1^st of November 2019 at Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management-Colombo 03.The objective of the seminar was to discuss important current food safety topics including colour coding regulations, labelling requirements food regulations and their revisions, food adulteration and food borne illnesses. Dr.Sujeewa Gunaratne, Senior Manager Regulatory Affairs, also President IFSTSL presented on food regulations. She provided guidance to participants based on her experience.  Ms. Anjalee Omalka Joint Secretary IFSTSL and also a Lecturer of SLITHM presented on food borne illnesses and food adulteration. The program was attended by more than sixty students and they successfully utilized the opportunity.

IFSTSL wishes to thank all participants and Mr. Dickson Kumara- Lecturer and Cluster Head of SLITHM who supported to coordinate participants.

Food safety and Regulations are becoming areas needing greater attention due to the increased demand for processed foods, new technologies used, and waste generated during food production and processing.

The IFSTSL conducted a workshop on “Food Safety and Regulation: Kick start 2020” on 29^th January 2020.  Emeritus Prof.Upali Samarajeewa involved as the resource person of the workshop. The workshop was held at Renuka City Hotel Colombo. A large number of participants participated at the event. Prof.Upali Samarajeewa engaged in an insightful Q & A session with participants.

Prof. Niranjala Perera organized the event on behalf of IFSTSL. The event also helped promotion of membership.  IFSTSL thanks emeritus Prof.Upali Samarajeewa for the support extended to make this event a success.

A webinar on “Covid-19 and sustainable food systems; innovations to face the “new normal” organized by IFSTSL on 13^th June 2020. The speaker of the webinar was Professor Rangika Halwathura-Commissioner,Sri Lanka Inventors Commision. Prof.Halwathura highlighted research findings on gaps seen on sustainable food systems, and provided examples to participants based on his experience.  IFSTSL wishes to thank the Speaker and all participants.

The IFSTSL selects a current theme applicable for food industries, for the second webinar of IFSTSL, named “Chemical Hazard along the Food Chain (Farm to Fork)” held on 20^th June 2020. Emeritus Prof.Upali Samarajeewa was the speaker of the webinar. Presentation was lined up to discuss various important aspects of chemical hazards in agriculture, food processing and their impact, and efforts to be taken by industries to minimize the impact on the environment. At the end of the webinar Prof. Upali Samarajeewa moderated a Q & A session where the participants clarified several important aspects regarding the presentation made.

IFSTSL wishes to express gratitude to all participants and the speaker Prof. Samarajeewa for the support extended to make the webinar successful

A webinar on “Smart Foods for Preventive Healthcare during Covid phase” organized by IFSTSL on 28^th June 2020. The speaker of the webinar was Professor Pratima Khandelwal from Banglore,India. Prof.Pratima highlighted importance of consumption of “life force’-natural fruits, vegetables and spices. She provided examples to participants based on her experience. The event also helped to promote IFSTSL as a large number of Indian participants attended the webinar. IFSTSL wishes to thank the resource person and all participants.

A webinar on Food Color Coding (Sugar, Salt and Fat) Regulations organized by IFSTSL on 11^th July 2020. The speaker of the webinar was Dr.Sujeewa Gunarathne- Senior Regulatory Advisor –Unilever Lipton Ceylon Ltd and also the Immediate Past President of IFSTSL. Dr. Sujeewa presented on color coding regulations, labelling requirements food regulations and their revisions and also she provided guidance to participants based on her experience. Dr.Sujeewa Gunarathne and Prof.Upali Samarajeewa moderated a

Q & A session where the participants clarified several important aspects regarding the presentation made. The webinar was attended by more than one hundred and fifteen participants and they successfully utilized the opportunity.

A webinar on “Minimally Processed or Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetable Products Industry-Overview and Challenges” organized by IFSTSL on 18^th July 2020. The speaker of the webinar was Dr. (Ms) Ilmi Hewajulige Additional Director General –R & D at Industrial Technology Institute. The webinar was attended by more than one hundred and thirty participants and they successfully utilized the opportunity. IFSTSL wishes to express gratitude to all participants and the speaker Dr. Ilmi Hewajulige for the support extended to make the webinar successful.

A webinar on “Plant Proteins –A multifaceted ingredient for food industry”organized by IFSTSL on 18^th July 2020. The speaker of the webinar was Dr. Janitha Wanasundara-Research Scientist at Saskatoon Research and Development Centre-Government of Canada. Dr. Janitha presented on types of proteins, uses, nutritional value evaluation for food industry and also she provided guidance to participants based on her experience. IFSTSL wishes to express gratitude to all participants and the speaker Dr. Janitha Wanasundara for the support extended to make the webinar successful.