The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, has expressed his appreciation for the quality certification initiative jointly launched by the University of Vavuniya and the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), aimed at addressing the long-standing marketing and export barriers faced by small-scale entrepreneurs and manufacturers in the Northern Province.
A special discussion was held today – on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, at the Governor’s Secretariat regarding the requirements and cooperation of the Provincial Administration for the activities undertaken by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution in relation to the issuance of quality certification. The discussion focused on conducting pilot activities in the Northern Province in collaboration with the University of Vavuniya.
Chairing the discussion, the Governor stated that the primary mission of the national standards body, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, is to bridge the ‘quality gap’ between regional production in the Northern Province and international market requirements. He noted that many small-scale entrepreneurs in the North engaged in food processing, handicrafts, and chemical manufacturing face significant challenges in accessing Colombo-based and export markets due to the absence of proper quality certification. By providing them with the necessary Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) certifications, these products can be given a ‘passport’ to enter international markets, the Governor emphasized.
Continuing his remarks, the Governor noted that the University of Vavuniya serves as a key educational and research engine of the region. He stated that the partnership with the Sri Lanka Standards Institute would transform the University into a ‘regional quality centre,’ enabling local entrepreneurs to conduct quality testing in Vavuniya itself without the need to travel to Colombo. He further highlighted that the high-quality equipment available within the University’s science and technology faculties would pave the way for its laboratories to obtain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation in the future. This, in turn, would allow the issuance of valid certificates for local water, soil, and food testing.
The Governor also expressed hope that this joint initiative would support new start-ups at the University’s Incubation Centre in designing their products in line with national standards from the outset, while also contributing to the development of new standards for palm-based products, local rice varieties, and organic fertilizers unique to the Northern Province.
During the discussion, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Vavuniya outlined the University’s preparedness and future plans for the initiative. The Director of the Northern Provincial Department of Agriculture highlighted the benefits of the scheme for agricultural producers, while officials from the Northern Provincial Department of Industries explained how the initiative would serve as a significant boost for small-scale entrepreneurs.
The Governor assured that the Provincial Administration would extend its full cooperation in raising awareness among entrepreneurs regarding the procedures for obtaining quality certification.
The Secretary to the Governor of the Northern Province, the Provincial Director of the Department of Agriculture – Northern Province, officials of the provincial Department of Industries – Northern Province, representatives of The Management Club – Jaffna, and the Governor’s Liaison Secretaries participated in the discussion in person, while the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Vavuniya and the Director of the Institute of Natural Resources joined the discussion online (zoom).
