Wednesday, November 09, 2016 President awarding the “Best New Inventor” in the Schools Section G.A.N.W. Gangodawila of Mayurapada Vidyalaya, Narammala at “Sahasak Nimawum” 2016 Exhibition. Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha and a large number of people participated in this occasion. Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation with Pakistan on 5th January 2016 Hope of Our Future Prosperity ... Science , Technology & Research SLINTEC Nanotechnology Incubation Center vested with the nation… Opening ‘Vidatha’ Resources Centre at Kahawatte Science & Technology for Society Forum Sri Lanka 2016 At the Presentation of National Quality Awards 2016... fter the present Government came into Apower, under the leadership and blessing of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research was ‘Sahasak Nimavum’ 2016 Exhibition entrusted to Minister Susil Premajayantha. This issue of ‘Vidya’ Newspaper highlights the mission carried out to uplift the fi elds of science, technology and research under the advise of the Minister, State Minister Lakshman Senevirathne, Ministry Secretary R. Wijialudchumi and the guidance of H e a d s o f A f fi l i a t e d I n s t i t u t i o n s . W h a t i s special about this is that, parallel to this, the ‘Vidya’ Tri-lingual Newspaper launched by one year’s proud contemplation of ‘Vidya’ Ministry of Science, Technology and Research with tri-lingual newspaper is also being held. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House) on 14th October 2015 completes one year. Ministry of Science, Technology and Research To read Vidya as an Paper visit www.dailynews.lk /vidya 2 Wednesday, November 09, 2016 activated? It is expected to introduce 13 projects in 2017. Out of these, four are scheduled to be carried out through the Ministry and the balance nine through affi liated institutions. Rs. 2994.38 million have been requested for these projects. With these, the total value of the operative projects will be Rs. 55,142 million. Other than those projects, Rs.700 million has been requested for three continuous projects. In total, Rs. 3694.38 million has been requested per year. Can you tell our readers what those projects are? The Universities of Colombo, Peradeniya, Sri Jayawardhanapura, Ruhuna, Wayamba and Jaffna and institutions of NERD, SLINTEC and NISF institutions under the Ministry, in collaboration with Shivanathan Laboratory of the USA and making arrangements train students who have passed the G.C.E. (Ad- vanced Level) Examination and interested in science in manufacturing solar panels locally. Asian Science and Technology Institute will Lakshman Senevirathne – State Minister of Science, Technology and Research be established with Japanese assistance to operate our technical programmes at interna- year has gone by “Vidya” the trilingual Locally also, that is a crying need. The main tainable development goals in science, tional level with on-the-job training required A offi cial newspaper of the Ministry of foundation has been laid in connection with technology and research sectors locally for the current job market. Science, Technology and Research. Being the 12 institutions affi liated to the Ministry of through the sustainable development A Bio Technology Park and a Health Sci- able to take the latest news and information of Science, Technology and Research through goals recommended for years 2016- ence Research Center will be established. science, technology and research to readers ‘Vidya’ newspapers to create avenues for Sri 2030. Unique are the crude oil and petroleum through those is a signifi cant victory. Lanka’s sustainable development. I add my felicitations for all the successes exploration special projects under ITI. The services of ‘Vidya’ in creating an interest I hope that ‘Vidya’ offi cial newspapers could be of your journey and best of wishes for Our objective is to uplift Sri Lanka to the about the activities of the sons and daugh- utilized as an offi cial media in social empower- future welfare. position of a country advanced in science ters of Mother Lanka and provide them with ment and uplift a citizen-based science culture I wish that the offi cial newspaper ‘Vidya,’ that and technology by 2020. encouragement has to be valued greatly. A as one of the main results approved at the is distributed free of charge with Dinamina, main benefi t provided by this is being able to recently held ‘Science and Technology for So- Thinakaran and Daily News, will remain How does ‘Vidya’ news- encourage reading, collecting information and ciety Forum Sri Lanka 2016’ and as an effi cient among us for a long time to come. paper completing one year analyzing information from schooldays as well methodology that can regulate information infl uence advancement of the as contribute to developing knowledge and necessary to clarify simple and basic science Ministry? skills needed for new inventions and manufac- applications in grassroots level and everyone turing processes for future necessities. in reaching for the results Science and technology programmes includ- In the world that is fast changing from day sus- of this Forum was that ing development projects operating under to day, science and technology is massively scientists and researchers have got our Ministry are taken to the general public utilized for all production processes in industri- the opportunity to uplift science technology in through ‘Vidya” trilingual newspaper that is alization, new inventions and all collaboration with scientists and researchers being published in collaboration with Lake other sectors. from overseas. House. Through this, admiration has been According to a concept of Prime Minister, a created for our Ministry, affi liated institutions and science and technology subject among Speaking of the money allocat- ed for 2016 for Ministry of Science, Technology and Research and pro- grammes activated through that? A sum of Rs. 896.07 million was allocated for our Ministry and Rs. 1354 million was allocated for institutions under our Minis- try. Through those, seven projects have been launched through the Ministry. Out of those, the main project is taking technical R. Wijialudchumi – Secretary - Ministry of Science, Technology and Research knowledge to village level through ‘Vidatha’ Centers. This programme has been al- Foundation has allocated Rs. 250 million to located Rs. 66.08 million. It is being operated Technocity is scheduled to be constructed study non-communicable diseases such as not only students but also the general public. through 266 Vidatha Centers established in Pitipana, Homagama. Land has been cancer, diabetes and kidney diseases. Thus, So, we are thankful to Lake House for giving countrywide. Rs. 34 million has been al- allocated. It is expected to uplift research, allocated money is properly invested. us this opportunity. Furthermore, steps are located to disseminate science, especially exploration, technology and commercializa- tion radiating from one single area. being taken to this programme forward. take science among school children. Rs. 550 What are the special pro- million has been allocated to build a medical grammes activated this year? How will be the fi nancial alloca- manufacturing laboratory proposed by ITI and For the fi rst time, an international forum tions through 2017 budget and SLINTEC. Its construction work will begin named ‘Science and Technology for Society Marlin Marikkar what are the programmes to be next year. Furthermore, National Science Forum Sri Lanka 2016’. One of the major Picture – Sudam Gunasinghe Wednesday, November 09, 2016 3 Accordingly, in the midst of all these We have provided a facilities being provided, steps are being taken to create new inventions place for new inventors within a very short time and provide to exhibit their new in- the products and services necessary ventions and with facili- for the country and, going beyond that, to navigate the overseas mar- ties to gather and dis- ket. cuss about their various As far as I know, the true develop- ment of a country depends on the projects with internet victories achieved in science, tech- facilities enabling them nology and new inventions. Sri Lan- ka is a country with a proud historic to get an understanding heritage. It is said that the world’s about new inventions oldest hospital had been established in our country. Furthermore, several of the other countries astounding engineering works such of the world, a long- as irrigation works and construction standing request of of Stupas had been operating in our country. them, from Borella area. But, due to our country being admin- Furthermore, as per an- istered by various foreign nations, a background where many things such other of their requests, as new inventions were blocked was we have made arrange- ments to provide them with a unique identity card symbolically today and for the fi rst time we also issued a new stamp to mark New Inventions Day. ast year, at the ceremony of inventors from the beginning of the created. Under those conditions, as We have launched discussions with Lpresenting Presidential Awards year. So, at present, we are working Japan, the country leading the world for New Inventors, the President to carry out both ideas of the Presi- replacement items for the items we needed were imported from those in Robotics, and Cuba, with a view to made two basic statements. One is dent. developing a cure for cancer using proclaiming A Day for new inventions We have provided a place for new countries. But, at present, that condition has Bio technology and arrangements are and the other is that those inventions inventors to exhibit their new inven- being made to bring those technolo- should be uplifted to commercial level tions and with facilities to gather and changed and an environment condu- cive to take all these endeavours for- gies to this country.