The National Science Foundation (NSF), Sri Lanka in collaboration with the ‘Vidatha’ Unit of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Divisional Secretariats, successfully conducted a capacity building programme for Science and Technology Officers (STOs) of ‘Vidatha’ Centers on systematic identification and analysis of problems to enable for them to provide scientific solutions to the community effectively.
This programme was conducted as the first progremme under the national programme on ‘Providing Scientific Solutions for the Community’. Identifying problems at grass-root level and analysis of same is somewhat challenging and therefore the above capacity building programme will empower STOs in identifying, analysis of problems at grass root level thereby to provide scientific solutions effectively. The programme was held online in Sinhala language as well as in Tamil language on 16th and 17 January 2025 respectively which was attended by 350 participants.
Dr Sepalika Sudasinghe, Director General of the NSF welcomed the participants and also provided an overview of the programme. Mr Y.L. Mohamed Navavi, Secretary to the Ministry of Science & Technology addressing the audience, underlined key insights on the significance of science and technology in solving problems at the community level. A detailed introduction to the programme was presented by Mr. A. Lakkathas, Additional Secretary, Vidatha Unit of the Ministry of Science & Technology. The resource person for the first day was Ms Dileepa Endagamage, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Decision Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and she facilitated an engaging session on identifying issues and needs within the community by a scientific approach and utilizing data analysis techniques in resolving the issues identified. The resource person for the second day was Dr N. Karthikeyan, Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics, The Open University of Sri Lanka.
This event was organized by the Science and Technology Policy Research Division of the NSF under the guidance of Dr Sepalika Sudasinghe, Director General of the NSF.