Financial Times

Lankan expats offer their services
By Quintus Perera
At least 50 Sri Lankan expatriate scientists have responded to a call from their motherland to contribute their expertise and knowledge to the country’s development process.

The Ministry of Economic Reform, Science and Technology said 55 top Lankan scientists offered help after the ministry posted an advertisement on its website inviting voluntary contributions from eminent expatriate scientists to contribute knowledge and experience in various specialized fields. The government contribution involves paying airfares and providing a nominal allowance.

Ms. W.A.S. Mahawewa, the Ministry's Director of Planning, told The Sunday Times FT that last year five of them had served in different specialized fields on short assignments. The experts are given a choice of serving periods of one to six months, being attached to a science and technology research institute, university or other relevant agency.

Dr. I.M. Dharmadasa, a solar energy specialist at Sheffield University, UK, spent two weeks at the National Engineering and Research Development Centre (NERD) at Ekala and the Peradeniya University. His visit was funded by the British Council at no cost to the government.

Dr. Dharmadasa helped to develop a project proposal on Alternative Energy Sources for rural power presented in May this year and now being examined by donors.
Prof. Sothyswaran, working in Fiji, spent 2 ½ months at Peradeniya University helping to develop a new curricular apart from organising lectures and seminars in organic chemistry for local scientists.

Prof. Pattiarachchi from the University of Western Australia assisted in the work of the Sagara (Oceanography) University in Matara while Dr. Lafir Zubair from the International Research Institute for Climatic Prediction Centre, USA, spent a month helping the Department of Meteorology and the Colombo University Physics Department. Prof, John Abeysekera, an ergonomics specialist from Sweden worked for three months at the Peradeniya University’s Engineering Faculty, looking at problems faced by elderly tea pluckers who get constant backaches when they don’t follow the prescribed method of plucking. He is expected back in Sri Lanka next month to continue the research.

The first scientist this year under this programme was Dr. J.A.J. Perera from the Commonwealth Secretariat, London, who assisted in work connected to the establishment of a Pesticide Residue Centre. Though Sri Lanka has identified some areas where assistance is required, a comprehensive study is yet to be made to identify all its areas.

The International Labour Organization's office in Colombo is currently undertaking a comprehensive survey to identify the areas in which Sri Lanka lacks technological and scientific skills.

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