President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that scientific research can be considered as national wealth. When a country is developing the quantity of the researches must also rise in every aspect, he said.

Addressing the research and scientific community at the Annual Presidential Research Awards ceremony at the Temple Trees yesterday,
President Rajapaksa said, “we value and appreciate you for the innovations of yours made on behalf of the country. We all expect
success and excellence. Let us dedicate for success and excellence.”

The President has presented awards to scientists and researchers in many fields. 475 researchers and scientists received awards for their
innovations, research and development work.

“In the past it was said that,'a nation that cannot make new products, will not develop'. It is true. We are now self-sufficient in rice and
to achieve this goal the researches conducted in this field has helped enormously. That is why we must regard researches as national wealth,” he said.

He pointed out that there is an obligation on Private sector too, to
assist in researches to meet requisite needs in the country so that
scientists' knowledge could be used to build the country. The
Government alone can not conduct researches in every field. The
private sector too must get the services of our scientists, President
Rajapksa said.

“A scientist's effort will end when he completes the research and
publish it. It is the responsibility of the government officials to
use the scientific research products to develop the country. It is our
responsibility to protect you and ensure that we do not loose you. We
are ready to do our duty continuously,” he said.

The President pointed out that the atmosphere is now conducive for
research and other intellectual activities. “By now I can say we have
already achieved results in these research. A Sri Lankan expatriate
who came to this conference hall during the last presidential election
said, "even from these walls we smell the scent of freedom".

“We all agree with that the knowledge could not be chained or drown in
an ocean of blood. Normally scientists in a country are considered as
the persons who feel the freedom better than others. Scientists and
intellectuals requires a free atmosphere conducive to research and
experiment in areas essential for the development and progress. Today
there is no fear psychosis. As a result of defeating terrorism today
it is possible for Scientist in the North and the East to conduct
their experiments with absolute freedom and improve their knowledge.”
President Rajapaksa said. “I would like to say that since the country
has been liberated from terrorism, the intellectuals of this country
have enormous hope in attaining a new Sri Lanka.”

He said that when rebuilding new Sri Lanka there is an tremendous
obligation on Sri Lankan Scientists. “The objective of our new Sri
Lanka is to make the country as a knowledge hub. In addition to the
ares like ports, naval, commercial and Energy hub we have included a
knowledge hub keeping in mind the intellectuals of this country,” he
said.