The Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake, undertook an official visit to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) on 19 August 2026. The visit focused on reviewing ongoing partnerships and exploring new avenues to expand future cooperation between Sri Lanka and the world’s leading particle physics laboratory. 

During the high-level engagement at CERN headquarters, Ambassador Dassanayake met with Dr. Ursula Bassler, Director for Stakeholder Relations and other senior officials from CERN’s International Relations team. Discussions centered on deepening Sri Lanka's involvement under the existing Memorandum of Understanding, aiming to create more opportunities for Sri Lankan university students, physicists, academics, researchers, and high school teachers. 

Ambassador Dassanayake also visited the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) which is a giant general-purpose particle detector at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The contribution by Sri Lankan students and academics to create Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) was commended by the CERN.

Ambassador Dassanayake reaffirmed the commitments of the Government of Sri Lanka to prioritizing science, technology, and research as key drivers of national economic development and innovation. Both sides agreed to maintain close dialogue to advance shared goals. 

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva

28 August 2026