Hon. Minister to the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation has agreed to launch a special program to use of Drone Technology and Leading Technologies for the Prevention of Dengue menace. The first discussion in this regard was held at the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation under the patronage of the Hon. Minister of Technology and Innovation Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala. The objective of the discussion was to establish a principle policy agreement between the two parties on the practical steps, which could be taken to create a country free from Dengue.Hon. Minister to the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation has agreed to launch a special program to use of Drone Technology and Leading Technologies for the Prevention of Dengue menace. The first discussion in this regard was held at the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation under the patronage of the Hon. Minister of Technology and Innovation Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala. The objective of the discussion was to establish a principle policy agreement between the two parties on the practical steps, which could be taken to create a country free from Dengue.

Speaking further Mr. Sumathipala said, “We can provide our technical assistance time to time to eradicate dengue. The main objective of this program is to provide technical support to the Ministry of Health in order to curb it. Arthur C. Clark Institute for Modern Technologies, Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology and other research institutes including Industrial Technology Institute would provide a leading support of latest technologies. As a national project, we will engage more important parties. We are also encouraging researchers to develop a technical tool to perform a low-cost test to detect dengue virus, and to carry out scientific research on dengue mosquitoes, including mosquito repellent for clothing. Funding for research on eradicating Dengue should not be an issue when the potential harm to human lives caused by the Dengue is taken into consideration. We fully support research grants on this as well. The label “Dengue Free Country” is very important for the development of our tourism industry. ”

Despite various efforts being made by the Ministry of Health to control the dengue menace, the dengue epidemic is emerging from time to time, so it is important to use the technical expertise of the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation to create a systematic program to control it. It was also revealed that these national issues are more effective and easier to achieve with parties involved together to share their knowledge on these nationally important issues, rather than having different parties individually worked.

The possibility of using Video and photo reports via drone technology was discussed with more focus on subject like technical issues caused by speed of the wind, access issues caused by the public and private institutions like schools, religious places, construction sites and sites associated with the spread of dengue. Creating a Geographical Information System to Generate Maps, mosquito attracted to a specific spot through Nano Technology and mosquito-breeding methods were among special topics discussed at this meeting. 

The Minister also instructed to formulate a special committee for this project. Mr. Chinthaka Lokuhetti, Secretary to the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation, Director General of Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Mr. Sanath Panawannage, Mr. Manju Gunawardena from Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, Officers from Provincial Health Services Director's Office and National Dengue Eradication Unit, doctors and public health inspectors on behalf of the Ministry of Health were present.

- Hon. State Minister Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala

Hon. State Minister of Technology and Innovation made a request from Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological education (SLIATE) students urging them not to think along conventional lines in matters relating to the upgrading of SLIATE degree awarding status, and other affairs of the institution but to join hands in stepping forward.

He made these remarks at a meeting with students representatives of SLIATE in Dehiwala, when he made an observation visit to the Institution.  He further elaborated as follows “In upgrading in this institution to the degree awarding status, the SLIATE Act has to be amended first. The objective of this institution is to save the way for a better future for students who achieved good results, but were deprived of the opportunity of entering the universities. In our attempts at improve in the standards of the institution; the students have felt a certain uneasiness, misinterpreting our attempts as privatization of education. Nothing like that will never happen. We will update you in a very transparent manner as to what we will do in future. When an institution is being upgraded to the Degree awarding status, it has to be opened to the world. We need to create an institution with capability of providing knowledge to suit the demand for jobs in the world. Knowledge being internationally exchanged is vital for this purpose. The value of the degree being awarded is decided accordingly.

In improving the institution, the benefits for the academic and non- academic Staff should also be increased and physical resources should be upgraded. Therefore, without letting the government bear all the burden, the institution should also think of earning an income. We hope to implement a development plan in future for this purpose ensuring that no injustice is caused to the students pursuing studies at the institution.” 

The Students representatives expressed their belief that action will be taken to upgrade the institution in a manner that safeguards the free education rights of the students, as majority of student pursuing studies at SLIATE do not come from wealthy backgrounds. 

This event was also attended by Mr. Chinthaka Lokuhetti, Secretary to the ministry, higher officials of SLIATE and Mrs. S. S. Samarakkodi acting director of SLIATE – Dehiwala.

Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala, Hon. State Minister of Technology and Innovation, said that he would directly intervene in addressing the deficiencies of CERA aiming at its successful transformation into an advanced technological centre. The Minister made this remarks during an observation visit made to the said institution which currently functions under the purview of the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation under the present government.  The Minister, further elaborating on the matter said, Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala, Hon. State Minister of Technology and Innovation, said that he would directly intervene in addressing the deficiencies of CERA aiming at its successful transformation into an advanced technological centre. The Minister made this remarks during an observation visit made to the said institution which currently functions under the purview of the State Ministry of Technology and Innovation under the present government.  The Minister, further elaborating on the matter said, 

 “This institution was initiated as a public - private partnership project several years ago and is now in an inoperative condition. H.E. the President has taken steps to place this institution, which functioned under a different ministry during the days of the earlier government, under the scope of our ministry.

We will do our maximum to take this centre of excellence for robotics application to the maximum state of development that it could achieve within the next two years. This will ensure the acquisition of higher production capacity for our industries. The application of Robotics would benefit industries by way of lowering the production costs and increasing the efficiency of the production process as well as resulting in a higher level of finishing for our local products. Our objective is to transform this centre into a pilot institution.  I will personally intervene in the development of the centre.  We have to make an investment on the centre in order to build a country based on novel Technologies in line with vistas of prosperity.”

By converting the Centre of Excellence for Robotics Application to a pilot institution, the children of the future generations would be given the opportunity to rally around this technology as well as enabling youths to improve their knowledge. Also a platform would be created for industrialists who expect large production capacity  to  elevate themselves to the next technological tier. Mr. Saman Perera, Additional Secretary to the Ministry and a group of officials of the Co-ordinating  Secretariat  for Technology and Innovation were also present  on this occasion.

Prof.Cyril Ponnamperuma Memorial International conference on Multidisciplinary Research organized by the National Institute of Fundamental Studies, functioning under the Ministry of Higher Education Technology and Innovation in Commemoration of the 25th death anniversary of one of its founders world renowned Sri Lankan scientist professor Cyril Ponnamperuma ,was held in Kandy on the 21st of January presided by the Hon. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation with the participation of the Hon. Thilanga Sumathipala, State Minister of Technology and innovation. Prof. Rohan Samarajeewa delivered the keynote address of this research conference attended by both local and foreign scientists. Coinciding with the conduct of the research conference, the Auditorium of the Institute of Fundamental Studies was named Prof. Cyril Ponnamperuma Auditorium and the Advanced Battery Research Centre of the institution was declared open.