On 24th March 2026, we had the opportunity to meet with senior officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Sri Lanka.
We were honoured to be received by Mr. Y. L. Mohamed Navavi (Secretary), Mrs. Geethani Kuruppuarachchi (Director General), and Ms. Buddhika Silva (Director – Research).
During the meeting, IRD shared insights from our 25-year journey in health and social care research, highlighting our key collaborations and our commitment to generating evidence that informs policy and practice.
In addition to discussing IRD’s research portfolio and related challenges, we engaged in broader conversations on national policy directions, drawing on our extensive experience in multidisciplinary research in Sri Lanka. We also highlighted IRD’s integrated approach through its three core pillars: research, ethics, and community engagement and involvement.
Furthermore, we shared our perspectives on the key challenges and barriers to the effective conduct of research—issues that are of concern to the wider research community in Sri Lanka.
