Technology could mend city village gap:

Entrepreneurs gain from Vidatha

Disna MUDALIGE

Modern technology should be transferred to villages in the periphery to make use of agricultural resources in a more effective manner and it would help for poverty reduction, said Technology and Research Minister Prof Tissa Vitarana.

Addressing a media conference held at the National Science Foundation (NSF) last Wednesday he said that infrastructure development and income avenue generation are important to mend the gap between city and village.

He noted that the Vidatha program initiated by the Ministry has obtained successful results and about 8,000 entrepreneurs have evolved and have created a stable position in the country with its help.

"Exhibitions will be organized in each district to reveal their products to the public. I recently visited the Galle exhibition.

I witnessed that the quality and standard of the products have also improved. These exhibitions also include valuable lectures for students and public on Science and Technology.

In the efforts of winning the economic war our local products should be lifted to compete with the products in the world market. Science and technology have a key role to play in this regard," he explained.

He noted that the government's aim is to double the per capita income by another five years which was US$ 2054 last year.

The Ministry has outlined a five year plan to give its contribution towards this task. This plan was adopted as a national plan by the Cabinet last week and a committee was also appointed to work out it, the Minister said.

He observed that easy means to earn attractive remunerations have surfaced in the society and talented students diverge to those fields since science and technology have not received its due place and promotion.

He noted that a number of programs to popularize science and technology in the country are scheduled parallel to the National Science Day which is to be celebrated on November 12 under the theme 'Resilience to Climate Change.'

The UNESCO has declared November 10 as 'World Science Day for Peace and Development'. This year's national program will be held in Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium with the participation of guests and about 2,200 schoolchildren.

The National Science and Technology Awards Ceremony will be held on November 16 at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel with Prime Minister D M Jayaratne as the Chief Guest.

NSF Chairperson Prof Sirimali Fernando, NSF Director Dr Sarath Abeywardena, Dr Jayantha Wattavidanage and Thusitha Malalasekera also spoke.