R&D labs in Sri Lanka
The 311 Institute tracks 19 R&D labs in Sri Lanka: 12 government, 6 research institutes and 1 university. Most are in Colombo, Battaramulla and Kandy, and the leading organisations include CGIAR, Coconut Research Institute and Industrial Technology Institute. Their main focus areas are plant science, soil science, molecular biology and water science and technology.
Part of the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory. Compiled by Matthew Griffin. Last updated .
19labs
19organisations
6cities
19verified
All 19 labs
| Lab and organisation | Location | Type and sector | Focus | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information and Communication Technology AgencyInformation and Communication Technology Agency | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Health Information Management, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health, Political Science and International Relations | 2003 |
| Institute for Research and DevelopmentInstitute for Research and Development | Battaramulla, Sri Lanka | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Plant Science | 1937 |
| Ministry of Science, Technology and ResearchMinistry of Science, Technology and Research | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Government Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanics of Materials, Animal Science and Zoology, Mechanical Engineering | |
| National Aquatic Resources Research and Development AgencyNational Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Government Environment and climate | Global and Planetary Change, Aquatic Science, Ecology | 1981 |
| National Institute of Health SciencesNational Institute of Health Sciences | Kalutara, Sri Lanka | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Cancer Research, Immunology, Pharmacology | 1926 |
| National Research CouncilNational Research Council | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Government Multidisciplinary research | Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Biophysics | 1999 |
| National Science and Technology CommissionNational Science and Technology Commission | Battaramulla, Sri Lanka | Government Multidisciplinary research | Aquatic Science, Economics and Econometrics, Plant Science | 1998 |
| National Science Foundation of Sri LankaNational Science Foundation of Sri Lanka | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Information Systems and Management, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Food Science | 1998 |
| Sri Lanka Council For Agricultural Research PolicySri Lanka Council For Agricultural Research Policy | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Government Agriculture and food | General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Management of Technology and Innovation, Soil Science | 1987 |
| Sri Lanka Institute of NanotechnologySri Lanka government | Homagama, Sri Lanka | Government Technology | Nanotechnology | 2008 |
| Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC)Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC) | Homagama, Sri Lanka | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Water Science and Technology, Genetics, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis | 2020 |
| Sri Lanka Institute of Development AdministrationSri Lanka Institute of Development Administration | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Government Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, Public Administration, Economics and Econometrics | 1982 |
| Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and BiotechnologyUniversity of Colombo | Colombo, Sri Lanka | University Agriculture and food | Molecular Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Plant Science | 2004 |
| International Water Management Institute (IWMI)CGIAR | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Research institute Environment and climate | Ocean Engineering, Soil Science, Water Science and Technology | 1985 |
| Coconut Research InstituteCoconut Research Institute | Lunuwila, Sri Lanka | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Inorganic Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Soil Science | 1929 |
| Industrial Technology InstituteIndustrial Technology Institute | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Research institute Agriculture and food | Plant Science, Food Science, Biochemistry | 1998 |
| National Institute of Fundamental StudiesNational Institute of Fundamental Studies | Kandy, Sri Lanka | Research institute Agriculture and food | Genetics, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment | 1981 |
| Rubber Research Institute of Sri LankaRubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka | Kalutara, Sri Lanka | Research institute Agriculture and food | Cell Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Organic Chemistry | 1909 |
| Veterinary Research InstituteVeterinary Research Institute | Kandy, Sri Lanka | Research institute Agriculture and food | Microbiology, Parasitology, Agronomy and Crop Science | 1911 |
R&D ecosystems in Sri Lanka
Organisations with labs in Sri Lanka
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Questions and answers
How many R&D labs are there in Sri Lanka?
The 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory lists 19 active R&D labs in Sri Lanka as of October 2026: 12 government, 6 research institutes and 1 university.
Which organisations run the most R&D labs in Sri Lanka?
In this directory the organisations with the most labs in Sri Lanka are CGIAR, Coconut Research Institute and Industrial Technology Institute.
Where are R&D labs concentrated in Sri Lanka?
They cluster around Colombo, Battaramulla and Kandy. The largest R&D ecosystem is Colombo region.
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