Five year National Science and Technology Policy adopted

A five year National Science and Technology Policy for accelerating the country's development effort and making the Mahinda Chintana vision for the future objective of making Sri Lanka a Wonder of Asia was adopted at the 6th National Science and Technology Conference which concluded at the Hotel Suisse, Kandy yesterday.

Technology and Research Minister Tissa Vitharana said over 200 scientists attended the conference organized by his Ministry's National Science and Technology Commission.

The Minister said special attention was paid at this conference for creating a scientific environment in the country for utilising scientific research and findings and advanced technology to uplift the agriculture, industrial and export sectors and creating a sustainable market for Sri Lanka exports.

An industrialisation program would also be launched with the objective of the country's per capita income to 5,000 US dollars by 2015.

The conference also paid attention towards the export of finished products for exports based on rubber, illmenite and graphite and introduction of nano technology for the agricultural industrial and export sectors.

The new five year Science and Technology Policy will be submitted to the President for his approval.