Sri Lanka Honours Top Agricultural Researchers at National Excellence Awards 2025

The National Awards Ceremony for Excellence in Agricultural Research for the years 2023 and 2025 was held on October 23, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Organized biennially by the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP), the event recognizes and rewards outstanding contributions to agricultural science and innovation. The awards aim to encourage excellence among researchers, support professional development, and highlight the crucial role of scientific research in strengthening Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

This year’s ceremony celebrated achievements in three key categories: forest plantation cultivation, export-oriented crops, and non-crop agricultural research, including floriculture, livestock, and fisheries and aquatic resources, for both 2023 and 2025.

Addressing the gathering, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha emphasized that Sri Lanka’s continued reliance on food imports poses a major challenge, placing a heavy burden on consumers. He urged researchers to contribute scientifically toward modernizing agriculture, empowering young agri-entrepreneurs, enhancing value addition, and promoting export-oriented development.

The Minister also called for stronger communication of research outcomes to policymakers and industry stakeholders, ensuring that scientific findings translate into real-world impact. He commended SLCARP for its ongoing efforts to advance agricultural research and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a development model focused on food security, import reduction, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability.