Sri Lanka celebrates National Science Day: Inspiring trust and transformation through innovation
View(s):Sri Lanka is celebrating National Science Day 2025 this week, in parallel with UNESCO’s World Science Day for Peace and Development, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to place science, technology, and innovation (STI) at the heart of its sustainable development agenda.
Organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology under the theme “Building Trust, Driving Transformation: Science for Sri Lanka’s Future,” the celebration spans from November 10-14, featuring an extensive lineup of exhibitions, open forums, workshops, and public engagement activities across the country.
This year’s programme underscores the growing importance of science in everyday life and policy, reflecting Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to link research, innovation, and education with national priorities.
The National Science Week 2025 will open at Waters’ Edge, Battaramulla, with the forum “Science for Evidence-Based Decision Making: Lessons Learned from Sri Lanka,” co-organised with the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (NASSL). The afternoon session, hosted jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focuses on Science Diplomacy and the critical role of research in shaping informed policy decisions.
Throughout the week, universities and national research institutions will open their doors to the public. The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) will host an “Open Day” and a Science Walk from Torrington to its Colombo premises. The National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) in Kandy will conduct a Hands-on Workshop on Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Devices for School Students, while the National Innovation Agency (NIA) will close the week with “Innovate to Impact” — a showcase of Lankan innovations ready for commercialisation.
Other highlights include the National Science Hackathon, an Open Forum on STEM entrepreneurship, the IP & Intellectual Property Rights Seminar at BMICH, and the Science Meets Arts session bringing together scientists, inventors, and creative professionals.
Sri Lanka’s celebrations coincide with UNESCO’s World Science Day for Peace and Development, established in 2001 to strengthen public awareness of the importance of science in building peaceful and sustainable societies. This year’s international focus — “Trust, Transformation, and Tomorrow: The Science We Need for 2050” — resonates closely with the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to integrate scientific thinking into national development.
According to officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology, this year’s theme reflects not only global scientific aspirations but also Sri Lanka’s renewed emphasis on evidence-based policymaking, research commercialization, and public trust in science.
“National Science Day is not just a celebration—it’s a reaffirmation of Sri Lanka’s belief that science must serve the people,” a senior official said. “Our mission is to inspire innovation at every level—from school invention clubs to national research programmes.”
The Ministry of Science and Technology traces its origins back to 1968, when the National Science Council was first established. Over the decades, it evolved through several institutional transformations — from NARESA in 1981 to its formal recognition under the Science and Technology Development Act No. 11 of 1994.
Despite its administrative shifts — including a brief period under the Ministry of Education in 2024 — the Ministry has steadily strengthened Sri Lanka’s scientific foundations. In 2025, it oversees 12 national institutions (14 with recently added Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board and Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council), the Sri Lanka Planetarium, and the Vidatha program, all working to bring research and innovation closer to communities.
Among recent milestones are the commercialization of the biofilm biofertilizer (BFBF) by NIFS, and the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) Strengthening Program with a Rs. 750 million investment.
A major focus of National Science Day 2025 is youth engagement. Through 100 School Youth Invention Clubs, the Ministry has begun cultivating a culture of creativity and experimentation among students. The Sri Lanka Planetarium will conduct astronomy camps and public sky observation sessions during the week, expected to attract thousands of young science enthusiasts.
“These events are about sparking curiosity,” said an educator from the Inventors Commission. “We want students to see that science is not confined to textbooks — it’s about finding solutions that improve people’s lives.”
As the closing ceremony approaches on November 14, Sri Lanka’s National Science Day will stand as more than a symbolic event — it will highlight the country’s determination to build a future driven by science and innovation.
From strengthening the national STI ecosystem to deepening international collaborations with China, India, and other partners, the Ministry’s efforts align with UNESCO’s call to ensure that science works for peace, prosperity, and people.
In celebrating both the World Science Day and National Science Week, Sri Lanka reminds the world that science is not only knowledge — it is trust, transformation, and the foundation for tomorrow’s progress.
For details on National Science Day events, visit the National Science Week 2025 Facebook page or most.gov.lk. For global updates, visit https://www.unesco.org/en/days/science-peace-development.
- Dr Prabath C Abeysiriwardana
(Director (Planning), Ministry of Science and Technology)
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