Multidisciplinary AI Research Center - MARC

🚨 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝! 🚨

Good news for all researchers and innovators! The 𝐀𝐈 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 submission deadline has been extended to 29th December 2025!

This is your chance to present your research on 𝐀𝐈-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 and innovative technologies that are shaping the future. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐫-𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐞-𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. Don’t miss out on this prestigious publication opportunity!

📅 New Submission Deadline: 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

🔗 Submit Your Abstract/Full Paper Now: https://forms.gle/YGNaDomUwd7jakaKA
🌐 Conference Website: www.aiconference.lk

Submissions are welcomed under the following themes:

* 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
* 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴
* 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀
* 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆: 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
* 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗜: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁
* 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻-𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻
* 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
* 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 and be part of the global conversation that is driving change in the world of AI innovation!

Work. Learn. Earn. 🤖📚

Join MARC, University of Peradeniya as a Pre-University Research Assistant and gain real-world experience in AI, IoT, and research before starting your undergraduate journey.

MARC in 2025: Looking Back and What Comes Next🔬

As we reflect on the past twelve months, it is clear that this year marked a definitive turning point for the Multidisciplinary AI Research Center (MARC). We moved beyond the boundaries of a traditional research group to become a thriving, interconnected ecosystem. What began as a collective of engineers has blossomed into a diverse community united by a shared vision for innovation, placing distinct emphasis on how we learn, how we collaborate, and how we uplift the next generation of discoverers.

This evolution is most visible in our numbers. Our volunteer force has grown to over 150 members, spanning all departments within the Faculty of Engineering and the vast majority of faculties at the University of Peradeniya. To bridge these diverse disciplines effectively, we initiated numerous satellite centers that facilitate seamless connections between faculties and departments.

Our efforts were validated by significant trust and investment. We secured major funding this year, including the NRC Target-Oriented Grant of approximately 20 Million LKR, various multidisciplinary university-level grants, and the prestigious NVIDIA Research Grant of USD 700,000. This support fueled research that garnered recognition on both national and global stages. We were honored to win the SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Award for the best HealthTech project and secured two out of three Manamperi Merit Awards for collaborations with the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Furthermore, our research outcomes reached top-tier global platforms, achieving Q1 publications in venues such as _IEEE Communications Magazine_, _Frontiers in Psychology_, and _Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications_.

Beyond research outputs, the supervisors and academic staff of MARC continued to invest in a culture of lifelong learning. As we bid farewell to our previous batch of research assistants and volunteers, who have now secured postgraduate placements at prestigious institutions including Princeton, Purdue, Johns Hopkins, College Park, and Virginia Tech, the staff at MARC strives to build upon this success. We aim to guide the current generation of students to pursue their postgraduate studies while instigating a culture centered on research-based learning. Building upon the foundation laid by our academic staff, these alumni are now "paying it forward," supporting the current generation of juniors through mentorship and workshops.

This chain of guidance continues with our current graduate students, who translate this philosophy into action through initiatives like "Brainstorm." Led by graduate students currently involved in MARC research, Brainstorm is an internal program designed to elevate the skills of our volunteer force. It is intentionally unstructured and supplements the usual academic curriculum by focusing on exploratory learning. Through workshops on specific concepts, open discussions on ongoing research, and concise Q&A sessions, Brainstorm encourages junior undergraduates to develop deep technical understanding and fundamental research skills. This spirit of contribution extends beyond the university; we connected with Sri Lankan youth from Ampara to Vavuniya to Colombo through outreach programs and workshops, aiming to inspire confidence in cutting-edge technologies and Artificial Intelligence.

Even during challenging moments, such as the period affected by Cyclone Ditwah, the MARC community stood together. Members checked in on one another and offered quiet support, while our supervisors continued to guide and uplift students through every difficulty.

Ultimately, MARC is defined by more than its technical achievements; it is defined by its people and their commitment to one another. The interplay between our supervisors, alumni, researchers, and undergraduates has established a resilient framework for lifelong learning. As we move forward, we carry this tradition of mutual support into every new project and partnership. We remain dedicated to empowering Sri Lankan youth and advancing global science, confident that our greatest contributions will always stem from our shared passion for exploration and our collective strength.

From Undergraduate Research to Apple: Bridging the Gap⌚️🔬

We recently wrapped up an incredibly inspiring session, "Research as a Career," featuring Dr. Wele Gedara Chaminda Bandara, Computer Vision Scientist at Apple and a proud UoP alumnus. It wasn't just a technical talk; it was a reality check on what it takes to succeed in top-tier global research. Dr. Chaminda broke down the journey from being a Research Assistant at the University of Peradeniya to working at the cutting edge of industry.

We were also joined by a panel of brilliant PhD students Rahal Nanayakkara from UCLA , Dilum Fernando, and Dhananjaya Jayasundara from The Johns Hopkins University in who added great value to the discussion.

A special note of gratitude goes to Prof. Roshan Godaliyadda, Prof. Mervyn Parakrama Ekanayake , and Prof. Vijitha R. Herath for their dedication in organizing this session. Thank you to everyone who joined us at the DEEE Smart Classroom. The future of research looks bright!

Capturing Kandy’s Legacy: An Engaging Session with Dr. Buddhika Dassanayake💫

The Multidisciplinary AI Research Centre (MARC) at the University of Peradeniya recently hosted an interactive session led by Dr. Buddhika Dassanayake, who shared a collection of rare historical photographs of Kandy captured decades ago. These images brought lively discussions among students, who demonstrated keen enthusiasm while constructing detailed historical narratives around the scenes. To complement the archival visuals, our team documented contemporary photographs of Kandy city and its surrounding areas, creating a compelling bridge between past and present.

This initiative is empowered by a significant NVIDIA grant of $700,000 in GPU compute hours awarded to MARC for the ‘Heritage AI’ project, directed by Principal Investigator Prof. Roshan Godaliyadda, with Co-Investigators Prof. Roshan Ragel and Prof. Parakrama Ekanayake, and Collaborators Dr. Uditha Jinadasa and Dr. Buddhika Dasanayake. Leveraging this support, we will apply advanced generative AI models incorporating diffusion techniques and implicit neural representations (INRs) to these historical and modern images. Our primary focus is image colorization, which will breathe vibrant life into monochrome photographs, enabling accurate digital restoration and enhanced preservation of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage.

Grateful to NVIDIA for fueling innovation in cultural conservation.

🚀NVIDIA-MARC Grant Alert! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce that Multidisciplinary AI Research Centre of University of Peradeniya has received a grant from NVIDIA in support of the groundbreaking research led by Prof. Roshan Godaliyadda, Prof. Roshan Ragel and Prof. Parakrama Ekanayake.

🎓✨ MARC Outreach Program 2025: Inspiring Advanced Level Students in Kurunegala! ✨🎓

On September 10, 2025, the Multidisciplinary AI Research Centre (MARC) at the University of Peradeniya hosted an exciting outreach workshop for Advanced Level students in Kurunegala. Led by our amazing faculty — Prof. Janaka B Ekanayake, Prof. Roshan Godaliyadda, Prof. Mervyn Parakrama Ekanayake, Vijitha R. Herath, Dr. Asitha Bandaranayake, Prof. Amalka Pinidiyaarachchi, and Prof. Sakunthala Yatigammana Ekanayake — students got hands-on exposure to AI basics and real-world applications.

A big thank you to everyone who joined and helped make this event such a success! Your curiosity and passion for innovation inspire us all. 🙌💡

Enhancing Academic Excellence: Workshop for University Lecturers in Vavuniya 🎓✨

On September 02, 2025, the Multidisciplinary AI Research Centre (MARC) at the University of Peradeniya successfully hosted a specialized workshop for lecturers in the University of Vavuniya. Led by esteemed faculty members Prof. Roshan Ragel Prof. Roshan Godaliyadda, the session focused on "University Ranking: Way Forward," offering valuable insights and strategies to elevate academic standards. We extend our gratitude to the participants and our expert facilitators for their engagement and contributions. 🙏

📍 Vavuniya | September 2, 2025
Part 2

The Multidisciplinary AI Research Center (MARC) of the University of Peradeniya conducted an inspiring undergraduate workshop titled "Meet AI: Tools for Exploratory Learning" at the University of Vavuniya.

This workshop, designed exclusively for undergraduates, focused on introducing students to research in Artificial Intelligence and project-based learning methodologies. The event was expertly led by a dedicated team from MARC, including Prof. Roshan Ragel , Prof. Roshan Godaliyadda, Dr. Asitha Bandaranayake, Prof. Vijitha Herath, Dr. Pramila Gamage, Prof. Chalinda Benaragama, along with a passionate group of research assistants and volunteers.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the University of Vavuniya and all the enthusiastic undergraduates who actively engaged in making this session a success.

Stay tuned for more impactful outreach as and beyond!
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📍 Vavuniya | September 2, 2025


The Multidisciplinary AI Research Center (MARC) of the University of Peradeniya successfully conducted an outreach workshop titled "Meet AI: Tools for Exploratory Learning" for Advanced Level (A/L) school students in Vavuniya, at the University of Vavuniya.

This workshop aimed to introduce young learners to the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence and its real-world applications, fostering curiosity and critical thinking through interactive sessions and hands-on activities. This event was expertly led by a dedicated team from the MARC, including Prof. Roshan Ragel, prof. Roshan Godaliyadda , Dr. Asitha Bandaranayake, Prof. Vijitha Herath, Dr. Pramila Gamage Prof. Chalinda Benaragama and passionate group of research assistants and volunteers.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the University of Vavuniya, the participating schools, and all those who contributed to making this event a success.

Stay tuned for more events and initiatives as and beyond!