Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ruwan Ranasinghe, has been honoured with a Professorship by Sichuan University in China, in recognition of his contributions to cultural heritage research and tourism development.
According to a Tourism Ministry statement, Ruwan Ranasinghe earned his PhD in Tourism Management from Sichuan University in 2017. Upon returning to Sri Lanka, he established the Department of Tourism Studies at Uva Wellassa University, later serving as its first Head and as Dean of the Faculty of Management. His academic leadership led to his recent appointment as Deputy Minister of Tourism.
- Strengthening Bilateral Academic Cooperation
During his visit to Sichuan University, Deputy Minister Prof. Ranasinghe engaged in discussions on Sri Lanka’s tourism transformation and collaborations with Chinese institutions, emphasising sustainable tourism and heritage conservation.
The symposium at the School of History and Culture explored Sri Lanka’s cultural tourism strategy. Dean Prof. Lv Hongliang welcomed the delegation, highlighting the nation’s potential in heritage conservation and tourism education. Prof. Ranasinghe outlined a roadmap for revitalising Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, integrating international expertise and digital advancements.
A significant initiative discussed was the integration of Sri Lanka’s National Tourism and Hospitality Research Institute into the China-Sri Lanka Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Cultural Heritage and Tourism, originally established during Prof. Ranasinghe’s doctoral studies.
- Industry Innovation & Academic Recognition
Leading scholars provided insights on AI-driven tourism marketing, interdisciplinary research, and student exchange programs. Prof. Ranasinghe addressed key tourism challenges, including rural tourism development, female travel safety, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Sichuan University’s leadership, including Li Zhengchi, Deputy Secretary of Party Committee, Liao Yu, Director of Party and University Affairs Office, Li Zhiqiang, Director of International Office, and Prof Lv Hongliang, Dean of the Faculty of History and Culture, officially welcomed Prof. Ranasinghe, reinforcing academic cooperation and talent development between Sri Lanka and China.
This Professorship recognizes Prof. Ranasinghe as the first international student from Sichuan University’s History and Culture Department (Tourism) to become Deputy Minister of Tourism. The honour acknowledges his contributions to Sri Lanka’s tourism, cultural heritage, and social sector development.
- Professorship Conferred: Honouring a Visionary Leader
Sichuan University’s School of History and Culture, School of Tourism, and School of Archaeology and Museology jointly conferred the Professorship on Prof. Ranasinghe, recognizing his leadership in international tourism research.
This accolade highlights growing China-Sri Lanka academic collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative, reinforcing Sichuan University’s role in global tourism and heritage studies. (Newswire)