Hon. Minister of State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation Dr. (Mrs.) Sita Arambepola stated that support will be given to bring the research results to a wider commercialization level. The Minister said this while participating in an observation tour of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies in Kandy which is functioning under the Ministry.Hon. Minister of State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation Dr. (Mrs.) Sita Arambepola stated that support will be given to bring the research results to a wider commercialization level. The Minister said this while participating in an observation tour of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies in Kandy which is functioning under the Ministry.

During the visit, the scientists of the institute briefed the Hon. Minister on the progress of the institute and the ongoing research and completed research. The Minister paid special attention to these matters and observed the relevant laboratories at length. The Minister pointed out the importance of giving commercial value to the products of the institute in order to get the proper results from the relevant research carried out by the scientists of this institute and said that she would continue to provide the necessary support to solve the problems and bring them to a wider commercial level.

Speaking further the Minister said, “Focusing more on research, innovation and the use of technology is a turning point in a country's economic development. From the moment that decision is taken, those countries mark the beginning of change and development. The role of our Ministry is very important in achieving the national development objectives of the country. All institutions need to work together with good management to maximize that role. Therefore, we are conducting a special study to gain an understanding of how to maximize the contribution of these research institutes in the coming year to achieve the national economic development goals of the country. We will also start the study pertaining to this institute from today”.

Additional Secretary to the Ministry, Deepa Liyanage, Vice Chancellor of the University of Vocational Technology, Prof. Ranjith Premalal, Chairman of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Prof. Athula Sumathipala, Director, Prof. Saman Senaweera and other officials were also present on the occasion.

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The State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation and the State Ministry of Wildlife are working together to find a scientific solution to the long-standing human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka through scientific research. A special discussion in this regard was held recently at the auditorium of the State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation with the participation of the Ministers in charge of the subject, Dr. Sita Arambepola and Dr. Wimalaweera Dissanayake.

Under the guidance of Minister Sita Arambepola, the research institutes under the Ministry of Science and Technology have come forward to find solutions to the social problems faced by the general public through scientific research knowledge. Accordingly, discussions were held on the sustainable application of practical scientific solutions to the human-elephant conflict. The Sri Lanka Inventors Commission, National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Industrial Technology Institute, Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, which are functioning under the State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation, are already conducting a number of researches in this regard. Successful pilot tests have also been conducted on several occasions. In the future, this research will be further expanded to provide scientific solutions to this problem. Technical support will be sought from the Arthur C. Clark Institute for Modern Technologies and the National Engineering Research and Development Center.

It was stated that the main reason for the arrival of wild elephant to villages is the lack of adequate food and water and if a mechanism is set up for this purpose, they can be confined to wildlife boundaries and thus about 50% of the problem will be solved. The Inventors' Commission and the National Institute of Fundamental Studies are conducting research on the restoration of the Kulu tanks in the forest, the restoration of the old system of feeding the Great Lakes through the Kulu tanks, and the identification and cultivation of fast-growing native grasses to feed the elephants.

Invention supported by the Inventors' Commission, Karuwalagaswewa has developed a high-efficiency hanging fence, an improved fence post that cannot be destroyed by an elephant, and a collar system that provides special signals that can worn the violently damaging elephants. It has also conducted pilot tests in Udawalawe and Ampara. A successful drone technology application has also been developed with the assistance of the Railway Department under the guidance of Mr. Manju Gunawardena to prevent collisions of wild elephants with trains. The Industrial Technology Institute is implementing a communication based project to ensure the safety of the community from wild elephant attacks.

Speaking at the event, Minister Dr. (Mrs.) Sita Arambepola said that it would be easier for the State Ministries of Technology and Innovation, Wildlife, the Wildlife Department, the Forest Department and the Irrigation Department to work together to resolve this issue. She also pointed out that a mechanism should be set up expeditiously to identify areas that should be given priority in finding solutions to this social problem and to implement pilot projects.

Minister of State Ministry of Wild Life, Mr. Wimalaweera Dissanayake stated that efforts are being made to find a solution to a burning issue by resolving financial and legal issues and that he believes that successful results can be achieved through a collective effort.

Secretary to the Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation, Mr. N. H. M. Chithrananda, Heads of affiliated institutions, officials of wildlife protection and conservation of the Ministry of Wildlife were also present.

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The State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation and the State Ministry of Rural Industries Promotion including Clay, Brass, Cane and Wood have taken steps to implement a joint program to take the scientific knowledge of research institutes to the villages and uplift the rural industries. A special discussion was held at the auditorium of the State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation with the participation of Hon. Ministers, Dr. (Mrs.) Sita Arambepola and Mr. Prasanna Ranaweera.

The objective of the integrated program is to provide the technical knowledge required to produce quality products that meet the demand of modern competitive market for traditional local industries. During the discussion, it was stated that the program will add value to traditional raw materials used by rural industrialists through scientific research, thereby creating innovations, modern technological machinery, etc.

Priority will be given to implement several high profile projects at an early stage. Accordingly, it is proposed to implement such projects for cane, clay, fiber and wood based products. Special attention will be paid to bringing the technological methods closer to the traditional industrialist and making them affordable, building industries of different sizes and using raw materials efficiently without wastage.

The Sri Lanka Inventors Commission, which operates under the State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation, the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, the National Engineering Research and Development and the Industrial Technology Institute, in collaboration with the University of Moratuwa and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the Center for Wood Design Innovation ( TDIC) and the Center for Wood Processing Innovation ( TPIC) , the National Crafts Council under the State Ministry of Rural Industrial Promotion, Laksala and the National Design Center are also scheduled to participate in the event.

Secretary of the State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation Mr. N. H. M. Chithrananda, Secretary to the State Ministry of Rural Industrial Promotion, Mr. M.A.B.V. Bandaranaike were in the meeting accompanied by the heads of the affiliated institutions.

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Hon. Minister of State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation Dr.(Mrs.) Sita Arambepola participated in an observation tour of one of the leading research institutes in the country in the field of space technology and related work, Arthur C Clark Institute for Modern Technologies. During this visit, she had a lengthy discussion with the officers on the current functioning of the organization and the organizational issues. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the commitment of our scientists is excellent and that in order to reap the benefits, research institute should be managed and well-coordinated. The Minister further stated that she will provide leadership for this.

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