 |
| Minister and other distinguish other distinguished guests observe as Mr. Mallawaarachchi explains the CSA Centre’s social media platforms |
The establishment of the CSAC is being widely recognized as a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to address the growing challenges posed by climate change to agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods. The CSAC is a key component of the Climate-Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) funded by the World Bank and, the center has been equipped with modern information and communication technology facilities and other essential resources to ensure effective and efficient operations.
Following the inauguration of the CSAC, K. D. Lal Kantha officially launched the Centre’s social media platforms, including its blog, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels. Addressing the gathering, Samantha Mallawaarachchi, IEC & ICT Specialist of the CSIAP and the initiator of the social media platforms, briefed the Minister and other distinguished guests on the features of the blog, highlighting its role in knowledge dissemination and its effectiveness as an information-sharing platform.
The newly established CSAC will function as a specialized institutional platform dedicated to advancing climate-resilient, sustainable, and innovation-driven agricultural development across Sri Lanka. Operating under the Agri-Technology Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Centre is expected to serve as a national coordination and knowledge hub, providing strategic direction, technical leadership, and institutional support for planning, implementing, and scaling climate-smart agriculture initiatives.
Vision
for a Sustainable Agrifood System
The
Centre has articulated a clear vision of becoming Sri Lanka’s national Centre
of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture, while also positioning the country
as a regional leader in South Asia. Its broader goal is to support the
transformation of the agrifood system into one that is productive, resilient,
resource-efficient, and environmentally sustainable.
The mission of the Centre is to mainstream and scale up climate-smart technologies, practices, and policies across the country. This will be achieved through its role as a national platform for coordination, facilitation, and knowledge sharing aimed at strengthening climate-resilient agricultural development.
Key
Objectives and Functions
The
CSAC will focus on several key objectives, including strengthening national
coordination on climate-smart agriculture, facilitating the adoption of modern
technologies and sustainable practices, and promoting research, innovation, and
knowledge dissemination. It
will also play a vital role in building institutional and human capacity.
Training programmes, technical workshops, and awareness campaigns will be
conducted for ministry officials, extension officers, farmers, and agribusiness
stakeholders. These initiatives aim to enhance the practical implementation of
climate-smart approaches at all levels.
Another major focus area will be supporting evidence-based policymaking. By generating data, sharing lessons learned, and providing analytical insights, the Centre will contribute to more informed decision-making in national agricultural and climate policies.
Digitalization and innovation will form a cornerstone of the Centre’s work. The CSAC plans to promote digital agriculture solutions, climate information services, and smart advisory systems that will improve farmers’ access to timely and accurate information.
Through these initiatives, farmers will be better connected to markets, financial institutions, and agricultural service providers, enabling more efficient and informed decision-making. The Centre will also support the use of data-driven tools to enhance productivity, water-use efficiency, and resilience, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions and village tank cascade systems.
Strengthening
Knowledge and Partnerships
As
a knowledge hub, the CSAC will consolidate research findings, best practices,
and field experiences from across the country. It will facilitate collaboration
among government agencies, research institutions, development partners, and the
private sector to scale up successful climate-smart solutions. Importantly, the
Centre will not directly implement all programmes. Instead, it will work in
partnership with relevant stakeholders to ensure that initiatives are
effectively planned, coordinated, and executed.
Strategic
Importance for the Future
The
establishment of the CSAC comes at a critical time, as Sri Lanka’s agricultural
sector faces increasing pressure from climate variability, extreme weather
events, and resource constraints. By providing a centralized institutional
mechanism, the Centre is expected to significantly enhance coordination and
long-term planning in the sector.
Among
the anticipated outcomes are improved policy coherence, increased adoption of
climate-smart technologies by farmers, strengthened institutional capacity, and
better access to climate information and innovation. Ultimately, the CSAC is
expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring national food security while
promoting environmentally sustainable farming systems that reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and improve natural resource management.
A
Step Toward Resilient Agriculture
In
summary, the launch of the CSAC represents a forward-looking initiative aimed
at transforming Sri Lanka’s agricultural landscape. By integrating policy
support, technology, training, and innovation, the Centre is poised to drive
the country toward a more resilient, productive, and sustainable future in
agriculture. The Centre will serve as a cornerstone institution in Sri Lanka’s
response to climate change, benefiting not only farmers but the entire nation.
Ahead
of the official opening of the CSAC, a ceremonial event was held at the main
auditorium of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation,
setting the tone for what officials described as a transformative initiative
for Sri Lanka’s agricultural future.
Pre-Inauguration
Event Marks Milestone for CSAC
The
pre-inauguration programme was conducted under the patronage of Deputy Minister
Namal Karunaratne, with the participation
of senior government officials, development partners, technical experts, and
stakeholders from across the agricultural sector. The event served both as a
formal welcome to distinguished guests and as a platform to highlight the strategic
importance of establishing a dedicated CSAC.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. W. M. U. K. Ratnayake, Additional Secretary of the Agri-Technology Division of the Ministry, outlined the vision and core objectives of the newly established Centre. She emphasized that the CSA Centre is not merely an institutional addition, but a critical national response to the escalating challenges posed by climate change to Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector. Dr. Ratnayake elaborated that the Centre aims to serve as a national hub for innovation, coordination, and knowledge-sharing, enabling the systematic scaling up of climate-smart technologies and practices. She further highlighted that strengthening resilience among farming communities, improving productivity, and ensuring sustainable natural resource management remain at the heart of the Centre’s mandate.
Secretary to the Ministry, D. P. Wickramasinghe, also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of institutional coordination and long-term planning. He pointed out that the Centre would play a key role in aligning various programmes implemented by different agencies, thereby enhancing efficiency and ensuring better outcomes for farmers.
Adding an international perspective, Dr. Athula Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist at the World Bank, highlighted the global relevance of climate-smart agriculture and commended Sri Lanka for taking a proactive step in establishing a dedicated institutional mechanism. He reaffirmed the World Bank’s continued support for initiatives that promote resilience, sustainability, and innovation in agriculture.
Mr. Saman Bandulasena, Project Director of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project, shared insights into ongoing efforts to introduce climate-resilient irrigation and farming practices. He explained that the CSAC would further strengthen these initiatives by providing a centralized platform for coordination, technical guidance, and knowledge dissemination.
The event concluded with the vote of thanks delivered by Dr. B.M.V.S. Basnayake, Director of the Agri-Technology Division. She expressed appreciation to all dignitaries, partners, and stakeholders for their contributions and support in making the establishment of the CSAC a reality.
The auditorium event not only marked the ceremonial beginning of the Centre but also reinforced the collective commitment of national and international stakeholders toward building a climate-resilient agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. It set the stage for the official opening that followed, symbolizing a unified step forward in addressing the challenges of climate change through innovation, collaboration, and strategic action.