Many countries developed through Science and Technology

RUWANWELLA group correspondent

SEVERAL countries in the world have developed using science and technology in all their activities. In this field these countries engage their educated lot who also work for the economic and social uplift.

Since our country has not made use of science and technology fully our educated lot emigrate to other developed countries looking for greener pastures.

The Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana made these comments opening the 7th Vidaatha Resource Centre at the Dehiowita Divisional secretariat recently.

He said his ministry has planned to open one hundred such centres in the rural areas in the future.

The minister pointed out that in the past only 0.18% of the revenue was allocated towards science and technology. On the contrary, countries such as India and Korea contribute more towards this section.

They embark on various projects using science and technology. Korea developed in a short period due to such an approach, he said.

The Minister said that although all ruling parties in this country promised to develop small and medium industries, only the garment industry has developed to a certain extent in the past.

The aim of the foreign investors is to take away our resources to their countries. The government should start new industries in our country to safeguard our resources. Due to lack of proper management and due to the low quality of our products our industries failed.

We have to look for alternatives. Oil will be scarce in the world in the future.

Our government has embarked using various alternative measures to produce power. We have found that gliricidia is one such segment capable of producing power. Growing gliricidia in the rural areas will be accelerated. This can also used as fertiliser, he said.

Secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology S. W. Rajapakse, Provincial Minister Y. G. Padmasiri, Dehiowita Divisional Secretary Saman Bandara, Ven. Hewanpola Wimalawansa, Director of Dehiowita Susilodaya Pirivena and former PC member Ajith Chaminda also spoke.