The Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo, successfully conducted the academic programme “Ethics, Responsibility and AI in Research” on 13 June 2026 at the Faculty of Graduate Studies Auditorium, University of Colombo.
The programme brought together academics, policymakers, researchers, and postgraduate students to critically examine the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing influence on contemporary research and higher education.
The inauguration ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the oil lamp and was attended by several distinguished guests, including Vice Chancellor Prof. Indika Mahesh Karunathilake; Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Prof. A. A. Azeez; Ms. Roshni Thomson, First Secretary of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka; Director of CCIS, Prof. R. Senathiraja; MPhil/PhD Coordinator of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Prof. S. Buvanendra; Dr. Mayuri Atapattu; senior academics of the University of Colombo; and members of the Ethics Review Committee,FGS,UOC.
Addressing the gathering, the speakers highlighted the transformative impact of AI on higher education and research while emphasizing the importance of maintaining ethical standards, transparency, and academic accountability. Further, they noted that as AI technologies continue to transform academic and professional environments, the event provided a valuable platform for discussing responsible research practices, academic integrity, and ethical AI adoption. Such engagements create valuable opportunities for institutions, academics, and researchers to learn from one another, strengthen international partnerships, and collectively prepare for future challenges in an increasingly AI-driven world
The programme featured three expert-led technical sessions. Dr. Madhusudhanan Baskaran of the IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation delivered a presentation on “AI Ethics and Academic Integrity,” exploring both the opportunities and challenges associated with generative AI in research, including algorithmic bias, hallucinated citations, and the potential impact on critical thinking. Prof. Dulani Samaranayake, Chairperson of the Ethics Review Committee of the University of Colombo, presented “Ethical Foundations of Research,” outlining internationally recognized ethical frameworks and key principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. The final session, “Ethics of AI Tools in Research,” was conducted by Dr. Chanuka Wattegama, who discussed the responsible use of AI in academic work, emphasizing transparency, disclosure, and adherence to institutional and ethical guidelines.
Participants actively engaged with the resource persons during the discussion sessions, contributing thoughtful questions and reflections on the evolving ethical challenges associated with AI-enabled research. The interactive nature of the programme enriched the learning experience and encouraged critical engagement with contemporary issues in research ethics.
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates to participants.