Sri Lanka Launches 100 Young Inventor Clubs to Foster Innovation Among Students
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the need to nurture a new generation equipped with creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking, stating that Sri Lanka’s future depends on individuals capable of questioning existing knowledge, thinking differently, and using innovation to address global challenges.
The remarks were made during the launch of a national programme introducing 100 new ‘Young Inventor Clubs’ into the school system. The event was held on Monday (8) at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Chishantha Abeysena.
The launch was symbolically marked by presenting Innovation Tokens to nine schools representing all provinces of the country. The programme aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative thinking in schools across Sri Lanka.
Key topics discussed during the event included the role of innovation in boosting the national economy, challenges and opportunities in school-based innovation, teachers’ responsibilities in establishing Young Inventor Clubs, the importance of patents, and the broader significance of educational reforms in shaping a creative workforce.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the value of an innovator is not measured by academic qualifications or the number of patents, but by their contributions toward building a better society. She stated:
“We need a generation with the creative intelligence to question the accuracy of data, see things differently, and use information to change the world. We need people with curiosity, who can think outside the box and pursue knowledge with purpose.”
Prof. Chishantha Abeysena stressed that innovation must be a national priority, with both the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education playing a key role. He noted that the younger generation is the country’s most valuable resource and assured that the government is committed to supporting children in their innovative pursuits.
