Leading corporates unite to rebuild trust in science to generate wealth for people

Friday, 18 July 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: Brandix Lanka Group CEO Ashroff Omar, Access Engineering Executive Vice Chairman Christopher Joshua, Dialog Axiata Director/Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, NASSL President Prof. Ajit Abeysekara, Senior Adviser to the President on Science and Technology Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya, NASSL Vice President Prof. Malik Ranasinghe, and Commercial Bank of Ceylon CSR Trust Trustee and Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking Hasrath Munasinghe

In a powerful display of private sector commitment to national development, Access Engineering PLC, Brandix Lanka Ltd., Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Dialog Axiata PLC, and TV Derana have joined forces with the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (NASSL) and the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) to launch ‘Rebuild Trust in Science’ – a three-year national public engagement initiative to restore confidence in science and its role in generating sustainable prosperity.

The formal agreements were signed with the NASSL on 1 July at an event held at Elevate, Access Tower II, marking the official commitment of each strategic partner to the initiative’s long-term vision. The event brought together key representatives from all partnering organisations and the scientific community to signal a shared commitment to national progress powered by science, innovation, and collaboration.

Running from April 2025 to March 2028, the ‘Rebuild Trust in Science’ initiative is led by the NASSL, with the SLAAS as partner and co-promoter, seeking to engage schoolchildren, undergraduates, policymakers, and the public through dynamic, accessible promotional activities. These include science day events, invention exhibitions, innovation competitions, teacher training, and TV episodes on TV Derana spotlighting how science creates wealth for the people and the nation.

Each corporate partner champions one of the initiative’s four key thrust areas, aligning their expertise with national scientific goals and the shared objective of science-led wealth creation for the people: Access Engineering PLC focuses on research and development, Brandix Lanka Ltd., on sustainability and consulting, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC on entrepreneurship, and Dialog Axiata PLC on science and digitalisation.

Through strategic funding and visibility support, these organisations will empower the NASSL and SLAAS to bring science closer to people—bridging the gap between research, enterprise, and national impact.

NASSL Vice President Prof. Malik Ranasinghe stated: “We are very grateful to all the strategic partners for joining the nationally relevant initiative launched by the NASSL to ‘Rebuild Trust in Science in Sri Lanka.’ Through an advertising campaign and promotional activities by the NASSL and SLAAS over three years and a Rs. 100 million initiative, we believe the public, politicians, and policymakers will believe and accept the advice of scientists on scientific matters relevant to the wellbeing of the people and the nation.”

The ‘Rebuild Trust in Science’ campaign is expected to launch its mass media awareness efforts in 2025, with a range of educational and promotional activities scheduled across the island over the next three years.

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