The Hon. (Prof.) Chrishantha Abeysena - Minister of Science and Technology

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, it has been one year since we assumed this Ministry, under which there are 14 institutions. We have announced our party’s research and development policy and further developed it through the National Science and Technology Commission, with a view to submitting it to Cabinet.

¶ 02 Across government, approximately Rs. 21 billion is allocated for science and technology-related institutions, not only for our Ministry but also for research entities under other ministries. Our Ministry has a major responsibility to implement the R&D policy, working with many institutions under our purview and also with those under, for example, the Ministries of Agriculture and Plantation. Implementation requires coordinated work; otherwise proper execution is not possible.

¶ 03 We have identified national research priorities across sectors, though further refinement is needed. We have appointed expert committees across all areas to support this work. Funding for priority research will be provided mainly by the National Science Foundation and the National Research Council, with the private sector co-funding some large projects. School and university students can also obtain funds. Many institutions conduct research with diverse criteria; thus, we have prepared a common evaluation framework and are engaging related institutions, including under Agriculture and Plantation, and universities, to institutionalize a national evaluation process.

¶ 04 A national MIS for research management is essential for transparency and efficiency. Currently, it does not exist. We are coordinating with the Ministry of Digital Economy and others to establish an MIS, to streamline proposal evaluation and enable evidence-based decisions on progress and direction.

¶ 05 Ethical governance is critical across disciplines, not only in medicine. For example, archaeology requires ethical protocols. We have established a Ministry-level committee on ethical governance to guide research in compliance with accepted standards.

¶ 06 Research is not sufficient unless commercialized. Commercialization is not solely our Ministry’s task; institutions such as NIA and SLIIT are involved, but other ministries—Fisheries, Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation—must also engage. Processes vary, so we intend to develop a common policy and harmonized procedures for commercialization. We are linking University Business Linkages (UBLs) and industry linkages into a network to operate under a common policy framework.

¶ 07 We are bringing together academics and scientists nationwide, irrespective of political differences, to work collectively. We operate as a group; decisions are made collectively.

¶ 08 On the “Vidatha” program: there are 315 Vidatha Centres, of which 73 are resource centres. The program had become inactive. We have prepared a strategic plan, obtained Cabinet approval, and are implementing it, integrating modern technology beyond traditional industries. The plan includes monitoring, evaluation, and KPIs, and we will assess officials’ performance accordingly. The 2025 Budget allocated Rs. 902.8 million for Vidatha; this year we have increased it to Rs. 1,151 million.

¶ 09 This year we will operationalize the program, upgrading the 73 resource centres into mini-incubation centres with equipment such as mixers, packaging machines, and other tools for small industries to uplift the national economy. We are spending over Rs. 75 million this year. Technology dissemination had Rs. 3 million this year; Rs. 37 million is allocated in Budget 2026. Quality enhancement had Rs. 6 million this year, increased to Rs. 9.8 million next year. Technical services and support centres (incubation centres) had Rs. 4 million this year and will have Rs. 142 million next year—an agenda to uplift small industries. We will collaborate with the Ministries of Industries and of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation.

¶ 10 Beyond Vidatha-level mini-incubation centres, we will establish higher-tech incubation centres linked to universities. Three centres—at the Universities of Jaffna (Chaavakachcheri), Eastern (Batticaloa), and Ruhuna—are planned this year, with funds allocated. These centres will be managed with Vidatha, university academics, industry, IDB, and private sector partners—true public–private–university collaborations. They will enable district-level testing, research, development, innovation, and support startups. Our vision is a hub-and-spoke network: large university-linked incubation centres connected to Vidatha mini-centres in every district, involving schools, university students, academics, and the private sector.

¶ 11 This year we established 100 Youth Innovation Societies in government schools; next year we will increase to 1,000, including online workshops on robotics and AI. The Sri Lanka Inventors Commission (SLIC), the National Science Foundation, NIFS Kandy, and others have created a joint schools program in discussion with the Ministry of Education. At the university level, we will establish youth innovation societies and a national network. Competitions such as “Sahasak Nimavum,” National Hackathons, and National Science Week have been conducted with broad participation.

¶ 12 From last year’s Budget, Rs. 750 million was allocated for Strengthening National Quality Infrastructure; 26 projects are being procured and the entire allocation will be spent this year to upgrade labs and standards to support exports. We also conducted Regulatory Impact Assessment work with the UN, spending Rs. 750 million this year and allocating Rs. 377 million next year.

¶ 13 The National Institute of Fundamental Studies developed a biofilm biofertilizer, which we commercialized on the 10th of last month—a strong example of commercialization of indigenous research. Arthur C. Clarke Institute’s engineers contributed to the “Dragonfly” nanosatellite placed in orbit, are upgrading railway engine subsystems with Sri Lanka Railways, and are repairing biomedical equipment. They are also researching thermal cameras and laser sensors to prevent elephant-train collisions.

¶ 14 The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) has ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for over 10,040 parameters. We signed an MoU with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority; we maintain a lab for pharmaceutical testing, and will address any cooperation issues. ITI is establishing rock/aggregate testing facilities in Norochcholai. Annually, about Rs. 36 million is spent overseas for fuel testing; we will save this once the local lab is operational—targeting first-quarter development and second-quarter functionality next year.

¶ 15 Please grant me two more minutes.

¶ 16 NERDC has built an electric three-wheeler and a converter kit to convert petrol three-wheelers—done by our institution. Next year, we plan an Agri-Tech hub with the Fisheries, Agriculture, and Plantation Ministries, to coordinate and commercialize innovations from villages, university students, and schoolchildren across sectors such as coconut, rubber, cinnamon, and palmyrah.

¶ 17 We also propose a Medi-Tech hub drawing on evidence from indigenous and Ayurveda medicine, and developing assistive devices, nanomedicine, telemedicine, genomics, stem cells, and nuclear medicine applications, engaging the Atomic Energy Authority for health, agriculture, and environment.

¶ 18 Please allow me one more minute.

¶ 19 We will integrate robotics and AI as we move forward, and also focus on engineering technologies, energy, mineral sands, solar cells, and EV batteries. Our spending is an investment. This Ministry must collaborate across all ministries—we are already doing so and will continue to strengthen partnerships.

¶ 20 I thank our Secretary, officials, heads of institutions, other ministries’ ministers and secretaries, heads of research bodies, and my personal staff. I conclude.