Formulating an S&T Policy for Sri Lanka in the Context of Globalisation

Abstract

Sri Lanka like most Third World countries is faced with problems of economic stagnation and increasing poverty among wider sections of the population. In such a context, science and technology policy is instrumental to the process of industrialisation and ultimately sustainable economic development. This paper presents a practitioner's account of science and technology policy in Sri Lanka. It argues that the problems of small size and continued dependence on primary commodity exports coupled with the pervasive influence of globalisation present a double bind for the development and implementation of science and technology policy.