An official meeting between the Minister of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka, Professor Chrishantha Abeysena, and the Minister of Science and Technology of the Government of Vietnam, Mr. Vu Hai Quan, was held on 8th May 2026 at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo.

This bilateral meeting took place in conjunction with the state visit of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. To Lam, to Sri Lanka, which marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Key Highlights of the Discussion:

• Strengthening Cooperation: Both ministries have been tasked with reinforcing long-term cooperation by enhancing knowledge, research, and technical capabilities in the fields of science, technology, and innovation to achieve national development goals.

• Historic MOU: For the first time, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

• Implementation Roadmap: The primary objective of this meeting was to build a mutual understanding regarding the roadmap for the practical implementation of the signed MoU. Extensive discussions were held regarding these future steps.

Areas of Mutual Interest:

Both parties agreed to collaborate and exchange knowledge in several key sectors to benefit both nations:

• High-quality Human Resource Training.

• Cooperation in the Digital Technology Industry.

• Standards and Quality Infrastructure.

• Sharing expertise in Satellite Technology.

• Agriculture and Agricultural Modernization.

• Marine Science and Capacity Development.

Attendees:

• Sri Lankan Delegation: Secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Mohammed Navavi, and other ministry officials. Heads of the Arthur C. Clarke Institute, the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) were also present.

• Vietnamese Delegation: Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Mr. Nguyen Thien Nghia, International Cooperation Officer Ms. Dinh Phuong Thao, and other high-ranking officials.

A special Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between the Ministry of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand. The agreement aims to enhance the professional capacity of scientists and research officers active in the country’s science and technology sectors. The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry premises under the patronage of the Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Chrishantha Abeyasena.

Signatories of the Agreement:

• On behalf of Sri Lanka: Mr. Y. L. Mohamed Nawavi (Secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology) and Mrs. Geethani Kannangara (Director of International Relations).

• On behalf of AIT: Professor Siddharth K. Jabade (Vice President of AIT).

• Upcoming Signatory: Professor Pai-Chi Li (President of AIT) is also scheduled to sign the agreement.

Scholarship Opportunities (2026–2031): Under this collaborative program, scholarship opportunities for Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) research will be available from 2026 to 2031. The focus will be on the following priority fields:

• Agriculture and Natural Resources Management

• Aquatic Resources

• Food Innovation and Nutrition

• Climate Change and Sustainable Development

• Disaster Management

• Sustainable Energy Systems

• Urban Planning and Public Policy

Financial Details and Objectives: As per the agreement, AIT will provide a 35% special tuition fee waiver for this program, while plans are in place to secure the remaining financial requirements through external financial institutions.

The primary objective of this MoU is to produce professionals capable of contributing to the country’s stable development by enhancing their academic, technical, and practical knowledge to achieve national development goals.

The inaugural ceremony to establish the "Citizen Science Cell" was held on 17th March 2026 under the patronage of the Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Krishantha Abeysena. This initiative aims to promote the concept of Citizen Science in Sri Lanka, supported by the Centre for Sustainable Development Reform at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.

A Milestone for Innovation and Sustainability

Marking a significant milestone in strengthening the relationship between science and society, the Citizen Science Cell is designed to:

• Ignite public interest and curiosity toward scientific exploration.

• Foster a sense of collective responsibility for innovation and sustainable development.

• Utilize the existing VIDATHA Resource Centre network as the primary platform for implementation.

From Grassroots Data to National Impact

In a biodiversity-rich country like Sri Lanka, the establishment of this unit is a vital step in enhancing scientific data collection capabilities from the village level to the national level. Public participation will be harnessed to collect and analyze data in several critical areas:

• Environmental conservation and biodiversity monitoring.

• Water and air quality testing.

• Monitoring Climate Change patterns.

Integration with "Clean Sri Lanka"

In alignment with the "Clean Sri Lanka" program, the Ministry is already using VIDATHA Resource Centres to gather data for technical solutions focused on minimizing plastic usage and mitigating disasters caused by climate change. The new Citizen Science Cell will integrate its data collection and scientific functions into this established framework.

Distinguished Attendees

The event was attended by a large gathering, including:

• Mr. Mohamed Nawawi, Secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

• Dr. Randika Jayasinghe, an expert from the Centre for Sustainable Development Reform at UNSW (the program's financial sponsor).

• Officials from the Ministries of Science & Technology, Environment, and Education.

• University representatives providing technical support and VIDATHA officers.