SL Govt. to invest Rs. 20 bln in Homagama’s Techno City
The government together with the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development is to invest Rs. 20 billion to build a ‘Techno City’ which will house five major technology institutes at the proposed Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) in Homagama. This was stated by Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Susil Premajayantha at the launch of the first phase of this project in Mahenawatta, Pitipana in Homagama on Thursday. Earlier Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was the chief guest, urged Sri Lankan expatriates to return and work here, reversing the brain drain.
“Having travelled around the world we see a lot of Sri Lankan expats in foreign countries who have achieved great heights in different industry sectors such as science and technology, healthcare, finance and management. Two weeks ago at a meeting with some of the experts who visited Sri Lanka, I requested them to bring all their friends back into the country,” he said.
The Prime Minister observed that unlike in other sectors, many who take up the biotechnology field are females while males study physics and chemistry subjects. “There is also a shortage of biology teachers in the country.”
Mr. Wickremesinghe added that the government will allocate some Rs. 1 billion for Sri Lankan start-ups. “Out of this fund, we will allocate Rs. 2.5 million for Small and Medium Enterprise projects.” Mr. Premajayantha noted that Techno City will be built on 45 acres of land within the SLINTEC premises with five technology institutes – National Science Centre, National Hub for Receiving and Redistribution of Earth Observation Satellite Data, Research and Innovation Zone, Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Technologies and Faculty of Technologies. He said Sri Lanka should get away from traditional export oriented earnings and foreign remittances and move towards science and technology led innovative economic growth.
Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that Sri Lanka is heading towards new technology and a knowledge based economy. “The world has changed because of innovation that has come into play. Investments in Science and Technology are very much anticipated and investment opportunities and jobs must be created in this sector,” he added. It was also mentioned at the event that a four lane road system will be built from Makumbura to Uduwana junction and a highway from Kaduwela to Kahathuduwa for easy access to the Techno City.