Research and (‘non’) development!
View(s):
If innovation can be the cornerstone of a growing economy, then research must surely be the lifeblood of the nation. But do we spend enough on research or isn’t it a fact that new governments create new research units – virtually reinventing the wheel – to provide solutions to the nation’s ills? Often these exercises result in R&nD (in my lingo – Research and ‘non’ Development).This is no fault of a new administration because the numerous research agencies that the government has to rely on don’t transform such research to be beneficial to the nation. Rather they are registered as patents or hidden in some research document without further notice.
On the other hand, investment in Research and Development (R&D) in Sri Lanka is at an appalling less than 1 per cent of GDP whereas most developed countries spend more than 2 per cent, sometimes as high as 5 per cent.
To find out more on this subject and for some guidance, I called Arty, the intrepid entrepreneur, who spends some of his time on research issues. “I say…..Arty, what is Sri Lanka’s status regarding R&D?” I asked. “Well, we spend a mediocre sum on this sector and even the little research that we do is hidden away in some research document with ‘proposals and recommendations’, never to see the light of day,” he said.
“But what about the new research agencies under the new regime?” I asked again. “Well…..proposals and recommendations have been made but not publicly announced,” he said.
Some decades back, when a powerful ruling party politician wanted to examine the research of a particular local state entity, the only reputed R&D agency at the time, she was told that such research cannot be released. So what is a point of R&D if it is only used as papers presented at some ‘distinguished’ seminar or filed as ‘proposals’ without being used for the benefit of the nation?
Admittedly, Sri Lanka has come a long way and some new agencies like the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), one of the few to transform ideas and innovations into daily use, have developed products like in the garment sector which have been used productively. At some point, SLINTEC was developing a fabric that did not need washing even after many uses or a paint that changes colour at night.
SLINTEC research has led to many companies either buying this research or funding it. While it is in the process of developing a slow-release urea fertiliser (which would eliminate excess use of fertiliser), it has developed a paint application and sold it to Lankem; a moisture management fabric to MAS Holdings; value addition of graphite to LOLC and Ceylon Graphene Technologies Ltd; advanced gold therapy cosmetics to British Cosmetics; tea-based natural dyeing to Dynawash; an anti-bacterial book cover to Atlas Axilia; an anti-viral spray coating to Multilac; another dye product to Star Garments; and compostable packaging from agriculture waste to Modern Pack Lanka Ltd.
Through this process SLINTEC has done its ‘bit’ for the nation. Another agency that was slow in the formative years but since then has worked with the private sector to fund its research and transfer the successful product to the funder, is ITI (the Industrial Technology Institute). After a period of ‘stagnation’ where its research was simply prepared and not taken to the next level (for the benefit of consumers), ITI has now developed many products for private companies.
However, on a less positive note, ITI has registered 35 patents between 2011 and 2025 but its website doesn’t show any signs of whether these patents by scores of scientists were transformed to good use. It would be useful for the ITI to respond to this column on what happened to these patents.
Among these patents are an apparatus and a method to convert low grade graphite below 80 per cent carbon into high purity graphite above 99.9 per cent; serial Pot Filter System for Removal of Hardness, Fluoride and Heavy Metal Ions from Water; Domestic Apparatus for Converting Biodegradable Food Waste into Compost; Manufacture of Ready-to-Serve Curry Leaf Beverage; using Banana Fibers as an Absorbent Material in Personal Care Products; Red-Clay Water Filter Body Composition for Removal of Arsenic, Cadmium and Fluoride from Water; Street Light Controlling System Using Radio Broadcasting Network; Low-Cost, High-Accuracy Ear Screening Device; and Development of Self-Cleaning Ceramic Tile among many others.
In August 2025, the National Institute for Research and Development Commercialisation (NIRDC) set up under the direction of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a public notice said that investors (both individuals and institutions) interested in providing financial and technical support on various tasks and those willing to serve as technical evaluation committee members could register under the following categories: 1) Agriculture, fisheries, wholesale, food safety and security; 2) Health, education and science; 3) Information technology, communications, engineering, power and energy, transportation and related technologies; 4) Environment, land, water, air and mineral resources; and 5) Human development, arts, history, culture and heritage; etc.
What happened to that exercise? Did many people and/or institutions respond to this call? What is the end result?
In the same month, a report titled ‘The Research Priorities for Sri Lanka – 2026’ was presented to the government by Prof. G.W.A. Rohan Fernando, Chairman of the National Science and Technology Commission (NASTEC). The report, it was stated at that time, was the outcome of a collective effort by 26 subject experts and more than 100 members of sub-committees representing 15 ministries connected to research and development. It presented recommendations on research and development priorities and directions for 2026, covering key areas such as agriculture, energy, education, digital transformation, technology, health, industry, tourism and social development. “This is also Sri Lanka’s first integrated report formulated to align research and development with the country’s long-term socio-economic vision,” an official statement said.
So what has happened to this report? Meanwhile, something is missing today? Oh….the trio is absent having gone to their villages on their bi-monthly visit. So…..no tea for ‘poor’ me! How I relish my regular two mugs of tea daily and also miss the chatter of the trio.
Having said that – it would appear that we may have to appoint another committee to examine what happened to all the ‘glorious’ proposals and recommendations from research agencies and whether the investment has been productive and beneficial to the nation. Back to the drawing board!
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!