4th International Research Conference of Uva Wellassa University (IRCUWU2020) was held on July 29 and 30, 2020 at the university.

UWU had its first Research Symposium in the year 2010 and, within a short period, IRCUWU turned out to be a significant annual event facilitating a large number of national and international researchers, scientists, economists, engineers, graduates and professionals to share their novel ideas and research findings in all aspects of Science, Engineering and Management.

With the eruption of COVID 19, the entire landscape of human activities, interactions, and priorities was changed unveiling the gaps in human knowledge, technologies, processes, and systems. Being sensible and pragmatic to the present situation, UWU was proactive to organize its IRCUWU2020 as an online conference. Coincidently, the theme set for theIRCUWU2020; “Enabling Economic Transition through Information & Knowledge Dissemination” fitted very much with the prevailing situation.

Accordingly, the IRCUWU2020 has been recorded as a historical moment for UWU and as well as to the country, as it is the first online research conference organized by a Sri Lankan State University in a big scale where a total of 356 research papers were presented in 11 thematic areas.

The inaugural ceremony of IRCUWU2020 was graced by the Vice-Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University, Professor JL Ratnasekera, guest of honour Prof. AS Karunanada, University of Moratuwa, Deans of the faculties, Registrar, Acting Bursa, Acting Librarian, Heads of the departments, Professors, directors of all centers and units, academic staff members, administrative staff members, non-academic staff members, authors, and presenters. Delivering the guest speech Prof. AS Karunanada of the University of Moratuwa reiterated the indispensability and the utmost significance of AI ( Artificial Intelligence) which is going to be the fuel for the 4th Industrial Revolution.