An MOU was signed between The Department of Music and Creative Technology and Yamaha Music, Sri Lanka, on 8 August 2022, at the Vice Chancellor’s Office, for Yamaha to market the product to be created by the Research Innovation and Commercialization (RIC) project (round 2) under the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development Operation (AHEAD), headed by Prof. Dharshan Pradeep Ratnayake (Head – Department of Music and Creative Technology). This is a combined project by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Technology of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. This is funded under RIC STEM/HEMS projects of AHEAD operation.
From the university, the Vice Chancellor University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Senior Professor Sudantha Liyanage, signed the document, flanked by Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda (Dean – Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences), Prof. Upul Subasinghe (Dean – Faculty of Applied Sciences), Prof. Harendra Kariyawasam (Director – OTS USJ) Professor Priyan Perera (Director – UBL Cell) and Professor Dharshan Pradeep Ratnayake (Project Coordinator and Head of the Department of Music and Creative Technology). Team members Prof. Prasad M. Jayaweera, from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Senior Lecturer Priyantha Thilakasiri, Senior Lecturer Muditha Ruwan Arumawadu, and Mr. Jeewaka Amiththa Bandaranayake from the Department of Music and Creative Technology, were also in attendance.
For commercializing partner, Yamaha Sri Lanka (M.L.C. Caderamanpulle Pvt Ltd), the MOU was signed by Shane Joachim (General Manager, Yamaha), with Rusiri de Silva (Assistant General Manager, Yamaha), and Business Development Officers, Ruskshan Hapuarachchi and Thilan de Silva in attendance.
Dr. Senaka Amarakeerthi (Faculty of Technology) and Dr. M. M. P. M. Fernando (Faculty of Applied Sciences) also make part of the seven-member research team lead by Professor Pradeep Ratnayake with research assistance provided by Ms. Sankalani Fernando. This is the first time where three faculties are getting together to produce a music software in the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.