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FACS Newsletter Special/2004 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY CEYLON
I consider it a great privilege and an honour to send this congratulatory message on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies.
The Silver Jubilee year of FACS is also coincidentally a significant milestone in the history of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon. For the first time, an EX-CO meeting of FACS was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 28th April 2004, on the eve of the Conference on Chemical Education convened by our educational arm, the College of Chemical Sciences, to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of our own Graduateship Programme in Chemistry. We were privileged to have the FACS President as a Guest of Honour at the Ceremonial Inauguration of this Conference while the FACS EX-CO members and associates were able to actively participate in our conference and exchange views with fellow chemists, thereby strengthening the ties between our Institute and the other member societies of the Federation.
At the present time when science and technology are advancing at a tremendous pace we in the Asia-Pacific region need to keep up with the developments taking place in the West and meet the challenges in the face of globalization. For this purpose, the cooperation of member countries, by pooling our resources, is essential. The advancement of chemistry, the ¡°central science¡±, is important not only for the development and welfare of the Asian people but also for the sustainable development of the entire world. The role of FACS in this respect is a vital and important one, to meet the current issues and problems of member countries through the objectives of the Federation and to search for solutions. FACS during its 25 years has made a valuable contribution working towards this common goal as can be seen from its activities in promoting chemistry and the interest of professional chemists.
I am happy and proud to note that the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, which is the successor to the Chemical Society of Ceylon established in 1941, thought it appropriate to become a founder member of FACS at its establishment in 1979. Over the past 25 years our involvement and participation in FACS activities have increased considerably. However, the interaction we had with FACS during our conference in April has greatly enhanced awareness of this regional body amongst our own membership and given all of us increased strength and confidence to play an even more significant role over the next 25 years.
On behalf of our Institute I take great pleasure to send you my warmest wishes on this memorable occasion and express the hope and wish that the Federation will progress from strength to strength and play a decisive role in enhancing the discipline and profession of Chemistry throughout the region as well as internationally.
Prof. Siromi Samarasinghe
President
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