My real visit to China started in May 2023. Just after coming out of the airport, but even within the airport I could see the real China after many years of reflecting on it. I had always been fascinated by exploring new areas and the opportunity to further my research career at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), guided by the esteemed Professor Zhang Chengshang, Deputy director of CAS’s SCSIO and Director of the China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Education and Research (CSL-CER), was one I couldn’t pass up. Although I had had previous experience in Beijing as a PhD student, I was eager to embrace this new cultural experience in the south of China.

I settled in my new home in Guangzhou, a nice apartment within the institute premises. The set up of my apartment and my office area was very close: only a few minutes walking apart and convenient for working at any time. I couldn’t help walking along the majestic Pearl River in my free time in the evening, enjoying the variety of delicious street food in street stalls and the vibrant celebrations of traditional Chinese holidays. The local public buses and metro trains left me in awe, and made it easy to go anywhere at almost any time. I always felt safe and comfortable exploring Guangzhou, even late at night with friends. One of my goals while living here was to improve my Chinese language so that I could hold a conversation with my Chinese colleagues, but it was no easy task. The diverse group of friends I made here helped me expand my worldview and provided me with much-needed support and companionship during my time away from my family. We would often spend our free time exploring the city, trying new foods, and shopping and visiting important landmarks. Some of my favorite memories were walking along the Pearl River and visiting the Canton Tower, spending a day out with my friend’s family at lychee fruit gardens and evening walks along Beijing Road.

Being Co-Director of CSL-CER of the University of Ruhuna, I had great opportunities to visit many CAS scientific institutions and to attend workshops and symposia as a resource person organized by CAS institutes. In addition, I visited the headquarters of CAS and CAS’s Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences in Beijing, as well as CAS’s Wuhan Botanical Garden, and had very fruitful discussions on future collaborations and student exchange programs.

One of the great memorable events was meeting my PhD supervisor, Eminent Scientist Professor Wu Weihua, during my Beijing visit. Meeting my PhD supervisor 16 years after graduation is not possible to explain in words. It was a very fruitful meeting that opened my eyes to new avenues for China-Sri Lanka cooperation.

As the years passed, I became more immersed in the culture of Guangzhou. The kindness of the people, the taste of the Guangzhou cuisine, and the beauty of the natural surroundings all left a lasting impression on me. I have many fond memories of my time in Guangzhou and I am grateful for the growth and personal development it provided.

Academically, the PIFI project has allowed me to develop collaborations with scientists at many institutes of CAS and I have no doubt that these collaborations will continue long into the future. My principal research interest is to explore bioactive compounds in mangroves and mangrove associated microbes in Sri Lanka. With the support of PIFI, I had the opportunity to initiate collaborative research with our several research groups in SCSIO in order to continue proposed studies associated with Sri Lanka mangrove ecosystems. I have already started exploring collaborative mangrove ecosystems in the “Maadu River”, where there is a great mangrove diversity, with my host research partner Professor Zhang Chengshang. These cooperative studies have been published in several high-impact journals and the professional relationships will be vital for my future success, as will the friendships established in the group.

As a member of the world’s largest scientific organization — CAS — I felt proud and honored to be a part of the PIFI program. Despite the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language, China had truly become a second home to me. I will always look back on my time here with affection and appreciation for the unique experiences it offered.

Source: Disna Ratnasekera,

South China Sea Institute of Oceanology,

Chinese Academy of Sciences