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.