The need to provide a training programme in laboratory technology has been recognized for many decades in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate resources, personnel and infrastructure were serious set-backs for the fruition of such initiatives. The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) however catalysed the issue when it got Commonwealth Secretariat assistance to orgainse a regional workshop at IGNOU, New Delhi, India in May 1996 and made available a complete set of study material obtained from a UK private company to representatives of sub-regional Open Universities including Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL). The OUSL took the initiative to its logical conclusion by inaugurating in October 1998 the first ever programme in Laboratory Technology within the Sri Lankan University system. The programme is intended to familiarise participants with the basic infrastructure facilities available in Science laboratories, train them in the operation and maintenance of scientific instruments, enable them to develop skills of common laboratory techniques and impart knowledge on the basis of organisation, management, maintenance and safety methods suitable in laboratories. The very welcome facilitating role of COL in exchanging study material and encouraging Open Universities to undertake distance education programmes of this nature has been amply demonstrated in this endeavour. Hitherto untrained laboratory technicians will now be empowered through knowledge, skills, technology and training appropriate to their requirements. After the current experimental cycle, the OUSL looks forward to make the programme available even to a wider audience and thereby fill an important lacuna and void in the training of middle level personnel in various types of Sri Lankan laboratories. A more specialised Diploma in Laboratory Technology is also been planned. The support and assistance of international bodies and external donor agencies such as COL and ICDE are essential pre-requisites for developments in such areas in the future. |