More than 300 Scientists receive President's Awards for Scientific Publications
President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasised how important it is to make Sri Lanka the knowledge hub in order to encourage scholars who are engaged in research. He said that there was an era in which people had been saying that Sri Lanka was an under-developed third world country. A majority of Arts Graduates were produced through the education system that existed. There was only one school in the entire Hambantota District to study in the science stream. It was the same in Moneragala. The President pointed out that some effective changes have now taken place andt with the technical education stream that has now been introduced, IT education which was only 3% when he assumed office in 2005 has risen to around fifty percent. As such the President said he strongly believe that they can place positive expectations in the future.
The President expressed these observations at the presentation of President’s Awards for scientific publications at the Water’s Edge in Battaramulla on Friday (31). Awards were presented to more than 300 scientists for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012.
The presentation of such awards was launched in the year 2001 to evaluate research publications of Sri Lankan scientists.
Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Secretary to the Ministry of Technology and Research Dhara Wijetilleke were among those present on the occasion.(KH)
