September 30, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is set to launch a comprehensive national quality infrastructure (NQI) system aimed at aligning the country’s industrial and regulatory standards with globally recognised benchmarks, Minister of Science and Technology Dr Chrishantha Abeysena announced this week.
The Minister made these remarks at the opening of a two-day workshop held in Colombo, focusing on regulatory impact assessment and the strengthening of national quality systems. The event was organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with technical assistance from the European Union.
With the 2025 national budget earmarking a substantial investment towards this initiative, the government intends to roll out a high-functioning quality assurance framework that will apply across multiple sectors. The new system will cover everything from food safety and pharmaceuticals to industrial goods and both imports and exports, with a strong emphasis on raising the global competitiveness of Sri Lankan products.
At the heart of the initiative are four central pillars: standards, precise measurement systems, conformity assessments, and certifications. These are designed to work together to create a reliable and internationally credible framework for quality assurance and compliance.
A number of leading national institutions will play a central role in implementing the infrastructure. Among them are the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC), the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board, and the Department of Registrar of Companies. These bodies will be tasked with upgrading laboratory facilities, enhancing technical capabilities, and modernising infrastructure to support the ambitious targets set under the new framework.
Dr Abeysena stressed that strengthening the national quality infrastructure is not only a matter of compliance but a strategic step toward building an export-driven economy. “In today’s global market, product quality, safety, and consistency are non-negotiable,” he said. “If we are serious about expanding our footprint in international markets, our goods and services must meet the most rigorous global standards.”
To this end, the government has allocated Rs. 750 million to support the initial development and implementation of the system. These funds will go toward upgrading testing laboratories, enhancing research facilities, and improving institutional capacity across the involved agencies.
