The Multi-university Project on Solar Edu-Training was initiated in 2017 as collaboration between Universities of Kelaniya, Peradeniya, Jaffna and the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) with the financial support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation (Rs. 240 Million) with main objectives of creating public awareness on solar energy, building a skilled workforce of solar technicians and conducting R&D work towards manufacturing of prototype thin film solar cells.

The Closed Spaced Sublimation (CSS) system, which is the major equipment which was purchased under the project at a cost of about Rs. 26 Million, housed at the Advanced Materials Research Laboratory (AMReL) at the Department of Physics at the University of Peradeniya, was commissioned with the presence of Mr. Anura Dissanayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation and Mr. Chinthaka Lokuhetti, Former Secretary of the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation on 30th July 2020. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Upul B. Dissanayake, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Saluka Kodituwakku, Head of the Department of Physics, Dr. Varuni Seneviratne, Director/Planning of Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Mrs. Nazeema Ahamed, Director of the Solar Edu-Training Programme, Prof. Sudath Kalingamudali, Deputy Project Directors, Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake and Dr. Buddhika Dassanayake were also present at the ceremony.

With the installation of the CSS system at Peradeniya, the AMReL becomes the only laboratory in the country to house such a state-of-the-art equipment for thin film research.