The National Research Council of Sri Lanka is a national funding agency of Sri Lanka, that provides financial assistance to the public sector scientists of the country. It has created as a Special Agency by the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the exercise of powers vested in him by Article 33 of the Constitution, aiming to assist the Government to plan, coordinate and facilitate research in Science and Technology so as to build a vibrant national scientific and technological community in the country to derive the maximum benefit. The National Research Council of Sri Lanka is an institute under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research. The NRC's official goal is to assist the Government to plan, coordinate and facilitate research in Science and Technology so as to build a vibrant national scientific and technological community.
History
The National Research Council of Sri Lanka was founded by the President Chandrika Kumaratunga on 20 April 1999 and Prof. Aries Kovoor was appointed as the founder Chairman. In July 2007, the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, issued a warrant formalizing the establishment of the National Research Council as a Special Agency, exercising the powers vested in him by Article 33 of the Constitution, and Prof. Eric Karunanayake was appointed Chairman.
Leadership
The Chairman of the National Research Council, currently Prof. Janaka De Silva, is responsible for chairing the meetings of the Council and for overall management of the Council. He is a Sri Lankan academic and physician. The Chair and Senior Professor of Medicine, he was the Dean of the Medical Faculty, University of Kelaniya and a member of the University Grants Commission. He represented National Research Council since its inception. He is appointed as the Chairman to the National Research Council by the President Mahinda Rajapakse by the presidential directive dated 09.09.2013 The Council consist of the Chairman, 9 Council Members, Ministry Representative and Treasury Representative. Before September 2013 the institution was chaired by Prof. E. H. Karunanayake
