CloudSpace v1.0 – Phase 2
July 26, 2025 · 4:30 AM - 10:45 AM @ Reasearch Building, Padukka, Sri Lanka Technology Campus
Description
CloudSpace v1.O – Phase 2 was held on the 26th of July 2025 at RB GF 3, SLTC Padukka premises. Organized by the IEEE Computer Society Student Branch Chapter at SLTC, this event was designed to elevate cloud computing knowledge and experience among undergraduates. Open to both state and non-state university students across Sri Lanka, CloudSpace v1.O attracted over 100 enthusiastic participants, all eager to explore the realms of cloud architecture, DevOps, machine learning integration, and cloud security. The session began with a warm welcome and a detailed introduction from the Vice Chairperson of the CloudSpace v1.0, who outlined the objectives of the event and provided a brief recap of Phase 1. Emphasizing the significance of the second phase, he highlighted how this phase would delve deeper into practical concepts, offering attendees insights into real-world applications of cloud technologies and practices. He also expressed gratitude to the expert speakers, participants, and organizing committee. He underscored the event’s vision of empowering the next generation of cloud-native technologists. Adding further credibility and value to the initiative, the AWS User Group Colombo joined as the official knowledge partner for CloudSpace v1.O – Phase 2. Their involvement helped bridge academic learning with industry best practices and ensured that the sessions maintained high technical depth and real-world relevance. Following the introductions, the technical sessions kicked off with an engaging presentation by Mr. Lahiru Hewawasam, an expert in cloud systems architecture. His session focused on the principles of scalable cloud solutions, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right cloud infrastructure for various business and technical needs. Mr. Hewawasam introduced best practices for designing fault-tolerant systems, leveraging services such as load balancers, auto-scaling groups, and container orchestration tools like Kubernetes. His session offered attendees a foundational understanding of cloud solution design, supported by real-life industry use cases. Next, Mr. Lakindu Hewawasam took the stage with a powerful session on DevOps in Cloud Environments. He began by explaining the DevOps lifecycle, detailing how continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines streamline software delivery. Through live demonstrations, he showcased how tools like Docker could be integrated with cloud platforms to automate development workflows. He emphasized the value of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using AWS CloudFormation, enabling developers to provision cloud resources quickly and reliably. The session was interactive, with students encouraged to raise questions and explore live demonstrations of code deployment and monitoring. After a short break, Mr. Nikila Fernando, an expert in cloud-based machine learning systems, conducted a session that seamlessly blended data science and cloud computing. In addition to his focus on machine learning, Mr. Fernando also covered aspects of cloud-native development, offering students valuable insights into building and deploying applications on cloud platforms. His presentation explored the integration of ML models into scalable cloud environments. He walked the audience through the process of training, evaluating, and deploying models using platforms such as Google Vertex AI. He explained how businesses harness cloud power to serve AI solutions at scale and demonstrated how APIs could be used to connect ML services to applications. Attendees found his explanations practical and eye-opening, especially as he linked theoretical ML concepts to cloud deployment strategies. The day continued with a captivating session by Dr. Chamika Hewawasam, who delved into the often overlooked but critical domain of Cloud Security. He addressed fundamental security challenges such as data encryption, identity and access management, secure APIs, and incident response in cloud ecosystems. He emphasized the importance of building secure architectures from the ground up and introduced tools and practices aligned with compliance standards. Dr. Hewawasam also engaged participants in a live walkthrough of setting up secure policies using AWS and discussed the principles of zero-trust security models. His session left participants with a strong awareness of how security must be embedded in every layer of a cloud environment. The final speaker, Ms. Thamodi Wickramasinghe, brought a refreshing perspective with her session that focused on Cloud Strategy and Career Development in Tech. She encouraged undergraduates to view cloud computing not just as a technology, but as a career path with immense potential. Ms. Wickramasinghe discussed emerging roles such as cloud engineers, DevOps engineers, and cloud data scientists. She also offered practical guidance on certifications, internships, and networking within the tech industry. Her motivational tone resonated with the audience, and she provided useful resources and strategies for those seeking to break into the cloud domain. Throughout the event, the sessions maintained a highly interactive format. Each expert incorporated Q&A segments, live demos, and real-time polling tools to keep participants engaged. Practical demonstrations allowed undergraduates to see firsthand how cloud-native development, deployment, and security tools function in industry-standard environments. Additionally, each session featured knowledge quizzes with branded rewards for the winners, which added an element of fun and healthy competition to the technical agenda. A short networking break between sessions allowed participants to interact with the speakers one-on-one and with peers from other universities, promoting inter-university collaboration and knowledge exchange. This unique opportunity to engage directly with professionals gave many attendees fresh perspectives on how academic learning translates into industry practices. Before concluding the event, a commemorative group photo was taken, capturing the essence of shared learning and innovation. As the session drew to a close, the project secretary delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks. She acknowledged the unwavering support of the IEEE Computer Society Student Branch Chapter, the dedicated speakers, the enthusiastic participants, the AWS User Group Colombo, and all the volunteers who ensured a smooth execution of the event. CloudSpace v1.O – Phase 2 concluded on a high note, having successfully bridged theoretical knowledge with practical expertise. The event equipped attendees with a multi-dimensional understanding of cloud technologies, from architecture to security, fostering both curiosity and confidence in their ability to pursue cloud careers. Participants left with not just new technical skills but also a clearer vision of how to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. The session served as a testament to the importance of student-led technical events in cultivating future-ready professionals. By bringing together diverse voices and insights from the forefront of cloud computing, CloudSpace v1.O – Phase 2 became a catalyst for knowledge, inspiration, and innovation among Sri Lanka’s undergraduate tech community.
Agenda
10:00 AM – Welcome Speech 10:10 AM – Session 1 12:30 PM – Lunch 01:00 PM – Session 2 04:00 PM – Tokens of Appreciation 04:05 PM – Thank You Speech 04:10 PM– Closing