Next generation must benefit from ancestors' knowledge - Pavithra

Ridma Dissanayake

The scientific and technical knowledge of our ancestors should be passed onto the next generation, Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Vanniarachchi said.

She said in the past, some Western scientists aware of the benefits of the Asians' technical knowledge, obtained the knowledge and passed it on to multinational companies earning large sums.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Colombo National Museum's National Engineering Technical Heritages Gallery, Minister Vanniarachchi said: "Our ancestors had a number of hidden talents.

"Their technical and scientific knowledge were identified by Western scientists using various experiments and used these talents to earn money for their benefit."

The newly built Engineering Technical Heritages Gallery will be a good opportunity for all Sri Lankans to obtain knowledge and assist in the conservation of our national heritages, the minister said.

National Heritage Minister Dr. Jagath Balasooriya, Ministry Secretary Dr. Nanda Wickremasinghe, Sri Lanka Engineering Institution Chairman Thilak de Silva, National Museum Acting Director Dr. Saroja Weththasinghe, Power and Energy Ministry Additional Secretary (Technical) Ranjith Gunawardena and Sampath Bank Managing Director Aravinda Perera were also present.