TAN Tieniu, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Education & Research in Sri Lanka on May 17-21, 2016 to investigate the center's work on ocean disaster reduction, water safety, and the integration of science and education. He also visited the Sri Lankan Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage, and universities in Sri Lanka to promote cooperation. 

Director of the joint center, WANG Dongxiao reported on the progress of the center's work over the past year and presented the "Marine Meteorological Disaster Forecasting System for Sri Lanka and Surrounding Waters" developed by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 

The system successfully forecasted the intensity and trajectory of a tropical storm that caused significant damage to Sri Lanka in May and provided the forecast information to Sri Lanka. 

WANG also reported on the scholarship evaluation and the establishment of the first Sri Lanka Oceanography Master's Program. 

The joint center would further improve the marine meteorological disaster forecasting system as soon as possible to provide data for serve disaster prevention and reduction. 

During TAN's visit, the South China Sea Institute of Oceanography and the University of Ruhuna signed agreements on promoting the application of the meteorological forecasting system for Sri Lanka and surrounding waters, jointly establishing a Master's Program in Marine Science, etc.