President tells scientific community:
Focus research on development
Chaminda PERERA
President Mahinda Rajapaksa stressed the need for integrating the
enormous talents and potential of local researchers and scientists into
the country’s massive development drive.
He was of the opinion that their research should necessarily be made
use of, for the development of country. President Rajapaksa made these
observations at the Presidential awards for scientific research held at
Temple Trees yesterday. The awards ceremony was organized by the
National Research Council jointly with the Presidential Secretariat.
Over 380 scientists and researchers who carried out outstanding
research in various fields were recognized by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa at this ceremony.
President stated that there will be no use of conducting research if
the people cannot derive benefits from them. The research should not be
confined to study. “There should be a viable mechanism to bring them to
an implementation level,” he added.
The President attributed the Government’s development drive to a
research in the fields of politics, economy and society. “We are in the
process of rebuilding the country which is itself a research in the
field of politics, society and economy,” he added. The President
attributed the Government’s development drive to a research in the
fields of politics, economy and society. “We are in the process of
rebuilding the country which is itself a research in the field of
politics, society and economy,” he added.
He added that some institutions which were originally established to
promote a research culture in the country ended up by providing medical
reports to hospitals.
The President is of the view that this situation should necessarily
be changed if scientific research is to flourish in the country.
President Rajapaksa admitted that the Government did not make
substantial allocation for certain fields during the past few years. “We
are now prepared to make adequate allocations for such fields,” he
stated.
President Rajapaksa said that he is aware of the problems faced by
the scientists and researchers in obtaining patent rights for their
research.
He emphasized that the authorities should look into these problems
too.
The President added that the Government has entrusted Minister Prof
Tissa Vitharana who is himself a scientific researcher in strengthening
this field from the university level upwards.
The President added that there are research institutions where the
members of the administrative staff are getting higher salaries and
perks than researchers.
“We should have proper understanding of our shortcomings and
difficulties we face,” he added.
President Rajapaksa added that the Government has created an
environment in which the scientists can do their research freely. He
opined that the research field is flourishing only when there is an
environment free from fear and intimidation.
He added that the researchers and scientists in the North and the
East can also indulge their researches free from intimidation with the
end of three decade long conflict. The President stated that Sri Lanka
ended an era in which the authorities sought foreign expertise for the
country’s development activities.
“There was an era in which we expected foreign expertise to build
roads and construct canals. This type of mentality deterred the progress
of the research culture in the country,” he added. |