President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has underscored that new scientific research must deliver tangible benefits to citizens while strengthening Sri Lanka’s economy, warning that only nations that harness the transformative power of research and development (R&D) will thrive in the future.
Speaking at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (05) during a review of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s 2026 projects and proposals for the 2027 Budget, the President said R&D has been the foundation of the world’s most prosperous economies, reshaping how human needs are met.
He called for an effective mechanism to provide the public with accessible data and information that can improve daily livelihoods and incomes.
The President proposed establishing a dedicated unit under the Ministry of Science and Technology to coordinate funding allocations for research activities across institutions under multiple ministries.
The meeting reviewed the financial progress of projects carried out by 14 institutions under the Ministry, with both domestic and foreign assistance.
Highlights included:
- National Engineering Research and Development Centre projects on elephant fence construction and low‑cost, eco‑friendly building technologies.
- Efforts to overcome challenges in commercialising scientific innovations, with contributions from the NIRDC programme.
- Collaborative research on cinnamon‑based products with the University of Ruhuna, alongside Ayurvedic product development.
- National Science Foundation projects, where procurement hurdles have slowed university partnerships.
- Work by the National Science Commission on a policy for the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, and progress toward a national intellectual property policy.
Looking ahead, officials announced that a scientific roadmap for disaster preparedness will be launched in October, while a technology exchange programme among BIMSTEC states is being planned.
Other initiatives discussed included:
- An AI‑powered thermal imaging system by the Arthur C. Clarke Institute to prevent train–elephant collisions.
- Research in emerging fields such as Astro‑Tourism and disaster management.
- Agricultural R&D projects focusing on cashew, paddy, and tea cultivation.
President Dissanayake stressed the importance of coordinating research across ministries, including agriculture, to ensure innovations are effectively commercialised and directly improve people’s lives. (Newswire)