United States - Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission

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💨 Air, Aging, and Ambition: How U.S. Higher Education Enabled a Sri Lankan Scientist to Drive Global Health Impact 🌏

Dr. Dushani L. Palliyaguru is a scientist specializing in environmental health, disease prevention and longevity. She is the Co-founder, CEO, and Senior Toxicologist at HealthSurveil LC, a U.S.-based health tech startup that develops biological and environment risk assessment and mitigation strategies for prevention and improvement of aging-related chronic diseases. 🧬

Now a The Fulbright Program Scholar in Sri Lanka at the University of Colombo, Dr. Palliyaguru is conducting a research and teaching project leveraging continuous air quality and emissions monitoring in agricultural settings to improve ecological and human health outcomes. 🔬

In this interactive session with EducationUSA Sri Lanka and Fulbright Sri Lanka, Dr. Palliyaguru will share her journey as a school student in Sri Lanka who pursued higher education from her Bachelor’s degree to PhD in the United States. She will discuss her career path to becoming a startup founder and CEO plus her Fulbright research with ample time for dialogue and networking. 🧪

📅 Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
🕐 Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m. IST
👥 Mode: In-Person
🏢 Venue: United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission (M2M Verandah Offices, 5th Floor, 34 WAD Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo 02)
📍Google Maps Pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sPLZ7e5KP3u1WNbT6

📝 Registration is required. Register here: bit.ly/dushani

🌐 Visit fulbrightsrilanka.org for more information.
📧 Please email [email protected] with questions.

Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State

💨 Air, Aging, and Ambition: How U.S. Higher Education Enabled a Sri Lankan Scientist to Drive Global Health Impact 🌏

Dr. Dushani L. Palliyaguru is a scientist specializing in environmental health, disease prevention and longevity. She is the Co-founder, CEO, and Senior Toxicologist at HealthSurveil LC, a U.S.-based health tech startup that develops biological and environment risk assessment and mitigation strategies for prevention and improvement of aging-related chronic diseases. 🧬

Now a The Fulbright Program Scholar in Sri Lanka at the University of Colombo, Dr. Palliyaguru is conducting a research and teaching project leveraging continuous air quality and emissions monitoring in agricultural settings to improve ecological and human health outcomes. 🔬

In this interactive session with EducationUSA Sri Lanka and Fulbright Sri Lanka, Dr. Palliyaguru will share her journey as a school student in Sri Lanka who pursued higher education from her Bachelor’s degree to PhD in the United States. She will discuss her career path to becoming a startup founder and CEO plus her Fulbright research with ample time for dialogue and networking. 🧪

📅 Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
🕐 Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m. IST
👥 Mode: In-Person
🏢 Venue: United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission (M2M Verandah Offices, 5th Floor, 34 WAD Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo 02)
📍Google Maps Pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sPLZ7e5KP3u1WNbT6

📝 Registration is required. Register here: bit.ly/dushani

🌐 Visit fulbrightsrilanka.org for more information.
📧 Please email [email protected] with questions.

Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State

Patrick McNamara, Ph.D., Executive Director of the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, and Program Officer, Shanaka Premarathna, visited the University of Ruhuna. 🏫

They met with the Vice Chancellor and Director of the Centre for International Affairs (CINTA) to discuss future collaboration, presented on Fulbright opportunities to faculty and students, and reconnected with Fulbright alumni.

If you are interested in having Fulbright Sri Lanka come to your organization or university, please let us know.

🟢 �The US-SLFC office is back open five days a week! Please visit us on Monday through Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or on Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

🌐 For questions about US-SLFC hours and operations, visit fulbrightsrilanka.org or email [email protected].

Fulbright Specialist Tour: Western Province 🚌

The Fulbright Specialist Tour with Dr. Robert F. DeFinis reaches its final stop in the Western Province! 🏢

🎓 Dr. DeFinis delivered two interactive sessions at the American Center in Colombo: one for students on career readiness, and one for teachers on results-driven education. He then delivered an education and AI session for teachers at the Asian International School. 🤖

This concludes the Fulbright Specialist Tour 2026! 🎉

US-SLFC and EducationUSA Sri Lanka are proud to have collaborated with the American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka - AAASL on this tour as part of Freedom 250, commemorating 250 years of American independence.

For more information on the Fulbright Specialist Program, visit fulbrightsrilanka.org.
For more information on the American Alumni Association, visit American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka - AAASL.
For more information on Dr. Robert DeFinis, visit drdefinis.com.

Fulbright Specialist Tour: Northern Province

The Fulbright Specialist Tour with Dr. Robert F. DeFinis arrives in the Northern Province! ☀️

Dr. DeFinis delivered two interactive sessions in Jaffna on career readiness and workforce competitiveness. The first session was for undergraduates at the BCAS Campus, Jaffna, and the second was held at the The American Corner Jaffna (ACJ) for Youth Forum Members and ACJ personnel.🎓

An evening networking reception then brought together Fulbright and U.S. government program alumni, University of Jaffna leadership, Youth Forum volunteers, ACJ staff, and American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka - AAASL partners.

Following the visit to Jaffna, the Tour’s next stop was at the University of Vavuniya, where Dr. Definis delivered one session to over 80 undergraduates, and another to the Academic Staff at the University. 🏫

The Tour now heads for its last phase in Colombo! 🚌

US-SLFC and EducationUSA Sri Lanka are proud to collaborate with AAASL on this Fulbright Specialist tour as part of Freedom 250, commemorating 250 years of American independence. 🇺🇸

For more information on the Fulbright Specialist Program, visit fulbrightsrilanka.org.
For more information on the American Alumni Association, visit facebook.com/aaasrilanka.
For more information on Dr. Robert DeFinis, visit drdefinis.com.

🇺🇸 Fulbright Specialist Tour: Central Province 🚌

The Fulbright Specialist tour with Dr. Robert DeFinis reached the hill country! ⛰️

Dr. DeFinis began his visit to Kandy early last week with sessions on American excellence in teaching for academic staff at SLIIT Kandy Uni and Trinity College, Kandy, where he and the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission (US-SLFC) team met with Principal Reverend Father Araliya Jayasundara. ⭐️

Dr. DeFinis also made two presentations at the American Corner Kandy (ACK) on leadership and entrepreneurship strategies to students and entrepreneurs associated with the Kandy Chamber of Commerce. One young entrepreneur even traveled over 125 kilometers to attend the presentation! 🛣

US-SLFC Executive Director Dr. Patrick McNamara hosted a rooftop reception for The Fulbright Program alumni, ACK Youth Forum & staff, U.S. government program alumni, and University of Peradeniya leadership celebrating Fulbright's 80th anniversary and Freedom 250. 🌌

US-SLFC and EducationUSA Sri Lanka are proud to collaborate with the American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka - AAASL on this Fulbright Specialist event as part of the Freedom 250 celebrations commemorating 250 years of American independence. 🇺🇸

🌐 For more information on the Fulbright Specialist Program, visit fulbrightsrilanka.org.
🌐 For more information on the American Alumni Association, visit facebook.com/aaasrilanka.
🌐 For more information on Dr. Robert DeFinis, visit drdefinis.com.

🇺🇸 Fulbright Specialist Tour: Eastern Province 🚌

The second stop on our Fulbright Specialist tour with Dr. Robert DeFinis: the Eastern Province! ⭐️

Last week, Dr. DeFinis delivered interactive workshops for undergraduate students and academic staff at South Eastern University (SEUSL) in Ampara and Eastern University (EUSL) in Batticaloa. Sessions for academic staff focused on community-engaged learning and student-centered teaching drawing on models from American universities, while sessions for undergraduates addressed leadership skills including emotional intelligence, active listening, and public speaking. 🧠

Each university visit also featured a special event. ✨ SEUSL Librarian Rifaudeen unveiled a The Fulbright Program and EducationUSA Sri Lanka section of the library featuring resources donated by the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission (US-SLFC) for pursuing higher education in the U.S. US-SLFC Executive Director Dr. Patrick McNamara cut the ceremonial ribbon and Dr. DeFinis donated a copy of his book. 📖

At EUSL, Robert and Patrick were joined by American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka - AAASL President Navam Hapangama for a presentation hosted by the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Professor N. Rajeshwaran. 📝

Dr. DeFinis then delivered one final session to a group of entrepreneurs at the American Corner Batticaloa (ACB). That evening, Dr. McNamara hosted a networking reception connecting Fulbright alumni, ACB Youth Forum & staff, U.S. government program alumni, and SEUSL & EUSL leadership overlooking Batticaloa's East Lagoon. 🛶

US-SLFC and EducationUSA Sri Lanka are proud to collaborate with AAASL on this Fulbright Specialist event as part of the Freedom 250 celebrations commemorating 250 years of American independence. 🇺🇸

🌐 For more information on the Fulbright Specialist Program, visit fulbrightsrilanka.org.
🌐 For more information on the American Alumni Association, visit facebook.com/aaasrilanka.
🌐 For more information on Dr. Robert DeFinis, visit drdefinis.com.

🏢 US-SLFC Hybrid Office Schedule 💼

🔴 In light of the Sri Lankan government's guidance to temporarily limit in-person operations, the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission (US-SLFC) office will be CLOSED on Wednesdays and Fridays. Staff will work from home and may be reached via email. 📧

🟢 The US-SLFC office will be OPEN as usual on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please make an appointment before you visit. 🗓

🌐 For questions about US-SLFC hours and operations, visit fulbrightsrilanka.org or email [email protected].

🇺🇸 Fulbright Specialist Tour: Southern Province 🚌

Our Fulbright Specialist Tour with Dr. Robert F. DeFinis kicked off in the Southern Province! ☀️

Dr. DeFinis delivered three interactive sessions in Matara. The first, on career readiness and workforce competitiveness, was at the University of Ruhuna. At the American Corner Matara (ACM), the second session trained Police Officers on strengthening leadership capabilities, making decisions under pressure, and guiding teams with integrity, drawing from Dr. DeFinis' background as a former policeman. The final session engaged the ACM's Youth Forum members on soft skills and professional development. 🎓

An evening networking reception then brought together The Fulbright Program and U.S. government program alumni, University of Ruhuna leadership, Youth Forum volunteers, ACM staff, and American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka - AAASL partners. 🏝

US-SLFC and EducationUSA Sri Lanka are proud to collaborate with AAASL on this Fulbright Specialist tour as part of Freedom 250, commemorating 250 years of American independence. 🇺🇸

🌐 For more information on the Fulbright Specialist Program, visit fulbrightsrilanka.org.
🌐 For more information on the American Alumni Association, visit American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka - AAASL.
🌐 For more information on Dr. Robert DeFinis, visit drdefinis.com.

Patrick McNamara, Ph.D., Executive Director of US-SLFC, and Soraya Fajudeen, Executive and Program Assistant, met with the Honorable Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof. 🤝

They discussed ideas for collaboration with the bi-national Fulbright Commission and strategic recruitment of Fulbrighters in priority areas.💡