Sri Lanka at the heart of Asian integration: seventh international conference in Colombo
Can our differences become our greatest strength? Can people of different cultures, religions and countries unite around a common purpose? These questions formed the heart of the 7th Asian Integration International Conference, held at ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo on October 30, 2026.
Held under the 'Borderless Asia' initiative, the conference drew educators, researchers, industry leaders and higher education representatives from around the world. While celebrating cultural diversity, it served as a platform to strengthen knowledge exchange and relations between nations.
The event was presented by the EIILM-Kolkata Centre for Leadership and Ethics and the Asian Integration Forum, together with Sri Lanka's Horizon Campus, Malaysia's SEGi University and Colleges, and Indonesia's Universitas Pancasakti Tegal.
Organised under the leadership of Professor (Dr) Rama Prosad Banerjee, chairman and director of EIILM-Kolkata and founder of the Asian Integration Forum, the event opened with the Sri Lankan and Indian national anthems and the 'Song of Asia', which he composed. The inaugural session also saw the international launch of two books he authored, The Mother Leader and Gita Sanchar.
A highlight of the conference was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Sri Lanka's Horizon Campus and India's EIILM-Kolkata, paving the way for educational cooperation, joint research, knowledge sharing and future academic initiatives. Horizon Campus Vice-Chancellor Professor (Dr) Sajeewanie Liyana-arachchi then delivered a keynote address on the theme 'Winning Victory'.
Two international panel discussions examined managing cultural diversity within organisations, and emerging developments in business, industry and technology, including the growing influence of artificial intelligence on organisational operations and decision-making.
More than 90 research papers were presented at the conference, 35 of them from Horizon Campus, covering fields including artificial intelligence, education, business management, biotechnology, sustainability, social sciences and technological innovation.
The conference carried a message beyond its academic programme: a more connected world begins with the willingness to understand one another. By welcoming differences, sharing knowledge and working together for common goals, countries can turn diversity into strength and build a future shaped by cooperation.