To overcome this situation the National Science Foundation is endeavouring hard to enhance the capacity of researches in the country and also come out with solutions to develop entrepreneurs and innovators so that high technology could be used for value added products, said National Science Foundation Director General Prof Ananda Jayawardane.

“We actually export raw rubber; raw coconut and raw cinnamon and we need value added products to be developed. For this the Ministry of Primary Industries has commissioned a research project spending millions of rupees so that we can come out with solutions for different species and value added products in Sri Lanka.”

Prof Jayawardane said for a country to develop it needed to invest on future education, research and development. He said Sri Lanka invested only 0 .106 of its GDP on R&D where as India allocated 0.6 of its GDP which is a colossal amount. Therefore the state needs to provide incentives to researches and motivate them. The research institutions in Sri Lanka are the lowest paid, he said.

Prof Jayawardane however said many initiatives has now been taken to overcome this situation .He said Rs 50 million has been allocated for cinnamon research project spanning over three years funded by the Ministry of Primary Industries. “Long-established institutions such as the National Science Foundation have ensured throughout the years that Sri Lanka was steadily progressing in the right direction towards a promising future in advancing knowledge and technology,” Minister Sarath Amunugama said. The NSF will celebrate 50 years of service excellence on October 4, 2018 as the country’s apex body powering the promotion of science, technology and innovation for the economic and social prosperity of Sri Lanka. The event will be held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.