University of Ruhuna

University of Ruhuna was established in Matara on three separate campuses: a general campus located on the south coast close to Matara town, and medical and agricultural campuses located on inland sites. Located in a relaxed, picturesque setting at Hapugala, Galle, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, thereby offering a congenial atmosphere for studies as well as creative and innovative work

It is the only University in the Southern Province endowed with the faculties of Agriculture, Science, Management and Finance, Fisheries and Marine Science and Technology, Humanities and Social Science, Medicine and Engineering. The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Ruhuna is the focal point of many AGSL initiatives. (internal link)

AGSL and the University have formed a Partnership (focal point is the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension) to jointly work towards the sustainable development of the Southern Province.  www.ruh.ac.lk

 University of Uva Wellassa

The Uva Wellassa University is the 14th National University in Sri Lanka established in the year 2005 with a vision to become the renowned centre of knowledge and expertise for value addition to the Sri Lankan resources base by the year 2015. It is different from all the other universities, as it is designed to provide essential skills and broad general education for all students while providing conceptual and methodological background and the training necessary to obtain practical solutions for value addition of local agricultural and mineral resources of Sri Lanka.
At present the university operates with three main faculties; Animal Husbandry and Export Agriculture, Science and Technology and the Management, and offers five undergraduate degree programs and more than twelve short term courses including two certificate courses in General Management and Human Resource Management .
Uva Wellassa University being the apex knowledge centre in the province has very important and significant role to play in support to the national efforts of human development of the province. Thus the university has engaged in partnership with AGSL and ready to provide know –how and expertise in order to improve the economic standards of the poverty stricken province. At present the University collaboratively works with AGSL to enhance the capacity of inland fishing communities in Uva province.  www.uwu.ac.lk

 Southern Development Authority (SDA)

SDA belongs to the central government and is established trough a parliament act. SDA intends to promote development in the territory of the ancient kingdom of Ruhuna (SP and part of Rathnapura district). The agency aims at improving the quality of life of the southerners through collaborating with the line agencies and the private sector in the development process.    www.sdasl.net  

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI)

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka completes 30 years of existence in 2008. It has acted as an engine of growth creating a considerable impact on the country’s economic development. The BOI functions as a central facilitation point for investors and operates as an statutory body. The Board of Directors drawn from the Private and Public sector and its several departments are geared to facilitating the investment process.

The BOIs efforts of networking the public and private sector is greatly contributing to the functioning of the Ruhunu Economic Development Agency (RUEDA).

 Ruhuna Development Bank (RDB) is the first bank to be established under the ‘Regional Development Bank Act no: 06 of 1997’. RDB operates with the vision of being the premier development bank of the masses of Ruhuna. The priority is given to elevate the employment production and income levels of the local community in the three districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota.

During its nine year banking service, RDB has been able to serve the people at the grass root level building up the trust and confidence on them about the service. Since the bank design its loan schemes and saving schemes to appropriate the income of the local community, AGSL identified the potential of RDB to be a partner to reach out to the community to give them the maximum benefit of the AGSL local economic development projects.

The Ruhunu Economic Development Agency (RUEDA) in partnership with RDB along with many other private and public sector institutes therefore design the holistic economic development initiatives to match the characteristics of the community of the region.  

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) was established in August 1981 under the provision of the National Environmental Act No:47 of 1980. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (ME&NR) which was established in December 2001 has the overall responsibility in the affairs of the CEA with the objective of integrating environmental considerations in the development process of the country. The CEA was given wider regulatory powers and is currently engaged in many areas of environmental management, awareness, and evaluation.

Protection, management and enhancement of the environment are the primary objectives of CEA. These efforts in tern help regulation, maintenance and control of the quality of environment, prevention, abatement and control of pollution. CEA is thriving towards protecting and managing the quality of the environment by promoting public participation, enforcement, advanced technological interventions and environmental education.

AGSL’s environmental awareness, tree planting and waste management initiatives all count on the support and guidance of the provincial branch of the Central Environmental Authority.  www.cea.lk

 Southern Provincial Development Authority 

This institution is focusing on the streamlining and strengthening administrative procedures towards achieving the development targets while advancing on a better human resource management system.

SPDA is a provincial authority established under the Provincial Statute which focuses on the overall development of the Southern Province. In the Local Economic Development sector, SPDA is a key partner for AGSL in the marketplace project and RUEDA, Ruhunu Economic Development Agency.   www.spda.lk/home.html