Official Handing Over of Recommendations on Revising the National Biotechnology Policy
The National Science Foundation (NSF), in its commitment to promoting advancements in science and technology, has undertaken the responsibility of reviewing the current National Biotechnology Policy which was developed in 2009. A policy document needs to be updated periodically therefore the NSF ascertained it is high time to update the existing National Biotechnology Policy. Accordingly, the objective of this review is to assess the Policy's effectiveness in addressing the present and future needs of the country in the field of biotechnology.
As such, the NSF, with the expert inputs from the NSF Subcommittee on Biotechnology initiated the review of the National Biotechnology Policy in 2022 to create an enabling policy environment to secure opportunities and to address emerging challenges in biotechnology. This exercise was supported by key subject experts in the field representing various institutions in analyzing and proposing required amendments ensuring a policy framework that is scientifically sound, socially accepted, and politically feasible.
Marking a significant milestone in this rigorous review process, a set of carefully formulated recommended revisions were handed over to the National Science and Technology Commission (NASTEC) to continue with the policy process. Official handing over of these recommendations took place on March 12, 2025, at the Ministry of Science & Technology which was graced by Dr. Chrishantha Abeysena, Hon. Minister of Science & Technology, along with the Ministry secretary and senior officials from the Ministry. Representatives from institutions under the ministry and the members of the NSF Subcommittee on Biotechnology also attended the meeting. Prof. G.W.A. Rohan Fernando, Chairman of NASTEC received the recommendations, signifying the next steps in policy formulation and implementation.
These revisions expected to provide a robust foundation for fostering innovation, research, and industrial applications in biotechnology, ultimately contributing to socio-economic development of Sri Lanka.
This event was organized by the Science and Technology Policy Research Division of NSF under the guidance of Dr Sepalika Sudasinghe, Director General, NSF.
Read about the previous events in this program