President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for scientific research and development to translate directly into better living standards and a stronger national economy, telling officials that countries which recognise and use the potential of R&D are better placed to meet future challenges.
The President made the remarks at a Presidential Secretariat meeting reviewing 2026 progress at the Ministry of Science and Technology and discussing proposals for the 2027 Budget, according to the President’s Media Division.
Dissanayake pressed for an effective system to put scientific information and data into the hands of the public in forms that improve daily life and raise incomes. He also called for a dedicated mechanism within the Ministry to coordinate research funding that currently flows to institutions sitting under different ministries — a fragmentation he said extends to agriculture-related research.
The meeting reviewed projects at 14 institutions operating under the Ministry with local and foreign assistance. Particular attention went to work by the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC), including studies on elephant fences and the development of low-cost, environmentally friendly construction technologies.
Officials discussed the difficulty of commercialising innovations produced by research institutions and the need for stronger mechanisms to move research outcomes into practical use. A cinnamon-based product project run with the University of Ruhuna was reviewed, alongside challenges facing research into Ayurvedic products and procurement problems affecting National Science Foundation joint research with universities.
The meeting was told that a national intellectual property policy is being developed and that a scientific roadmap for disaster preparedness is due to launch in October. Also discussed were a technology exchange programme among BIMSTEC member states and an Arthur C. Clarke Institute initiative to deploy AI-based thermal imaging cameras to prevent train collisions with wild elephants.
Research in astro-tourism, disaster management and agricultural sectors including cashew, paddy and tea was also reviewed. Minister of Science and Technology Krishantha Abeysena attended along with senior officials.
