New inventions important for economic advancement of developing country - President

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga underlined the importance of new inventions to a developing country for its economic advancement.

Addressing the winners of the new inventions for the Years 2002 and 2003 at an awards ceremony held at the President's House she reminded them of the golden past of the country.

" We had an irrigation system and architecture unique to us. Our fore-fathers handed down them to us and the world experts in these fields were surprised to learn of our glorious past. But with the country becoming a colony under foreign powers, our creativity was hampered", she said.

She observed that all governments since independence failed to create the conducive environment for new inventions and those with aptitude in the respective fields left the country for greener pastures. At the time of Independence Sri Lanka and India were at the same level in respect of technology. But after Indian Prime Minister Sri Nehru gave all the encouragement for the development of science and technological fields the end result was India progressed at a rapid pace in these respective fields.

"When the PA came to power in 1994, we paid special attention to these areas. As a result, today new inventors from Sri Lanka are able to compete with others and win awards displaying their talents at exhibitions abroad", she said.

The Freedom Alliance Government in its maiden budget had allocated Rs. 200 million to open up centres for new inventors. From this Rs. 100 million came from the President's Fund and the balance from the Central Bank.

The Government has also taken steps to reopen the Institute of Fundamental Studies which was in a poor neglected state when the PA took over the reigns of the country. The President promised all the support necessary to run these institutions.

Technology and National Enterprises Development Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has created the necessary environment to take the rural talent to the international arena without it remaining in the village.

M.P.S. Fernando who won the award for the best invention in the year 2003 and Sankya Nanayakkara for year 2002 received their awards from the President at the President's House.