Official handing over of the Master Plan for the National Science Center (NSC) in Sri Lanka took place at the Opening Ceremony of BRISMIS 2019 in Beijing on 15 October 2019.
Under the cooperation agreement between UNESCO and the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museum (CANSM), whereby CANSM agreed to assist UNESCO countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative in their development of science centres, and on the request of Sri Lanka government initiated by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Master Plan titled “Planning Scheme for Content, Construction of National Science Centre, Sri Lanka” compiled by the China Science and Technology Museums (CSTM) under the guidance of CANSM and UNESCO.
Although the idea of establishing a Science Museum in Sri Lanka was first mooted by the Ceylon Association of Advancement of Science (CAAS) way back in 1947, it did not materialize due to the lack of relevant experiences, funds and other issues. In 2018, the Government of Sri Lanka requested UNESCO for technical assistance for the construction of a National Science Centre and allocated 17 acres of land for the purpose within the proposed Tech City, about 25 km from downtown Colombo. Accordingly UNESCO agreed to provide support under the framework of CANSM.
The proposed National Science Centre aims to carry out science education through popular science exhibitions, training experiments, special effects film and videos, scientific and cultural exchanges, online science and a technology museum with a view to simulating creativity and imagination of the public and enhancing scientific literacy among the people of Sri Lanka. According to the budget, the total estimated cost will be US $ 26.9 Mn in addition to the cost of the land.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China Dr Karunasena Kodituwakku and Chairman of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka Dr. A.M. Mubarak attended the ceremony on behalf of Sri Lanka. Dignitaries including Vice President & Executive Secretary of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) Dr. Meng Qinghai, President of the Chinese Association of Natural Science M useums (CANSM) Dr. Cheng Donghong and Vice President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Dr. An Laishun and representatives of UNESCO and China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) also attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mubarak, Chairman of NSF thanked the efforts of the Government of People’s Republic of China ably supported by UNESCO and CANSM, and the Sri Lankan Government, for preparing a blue print to set up a state of the art National Science Centre in the Homagama Tech City after 70 long years.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Beijing
16 October 2019
