The Institute for Research and Development is an academic research institution which was established in 1997 as the Forum for Research and Development, and changed to Institute for Research and Development in 2000. It’s academic members include epidemiologists, psychiatrists, physicians, geneticists, veterinarians, public health specialists, ethicists, educationists, and people from many other disciplines. It has a full time research staff, and many other associates who are involved at various levels while employed in other academic institutions. We have networks of Sri Lankan and overseas academics, and academic institutions. Our mandate is to promote an overarching research culture in Sri Lanka; conducting multi-disciplinary research, working with people who will benefit from research, establishing strategic partnerships and to work for policy impact.

Our Vision

To bring together Sri Lankan scholars, academics and professionals from diverse disciplines living anywhere in the world, to carry out multidisciplinary research.

Our Mission

  • Establish strategic partnerships.
  • Work with people who will benefit from research.
  • Influence policy makers.
  • Facilitate multidisciplinary research.
  • Promote an environment free of bureaucracy to carry out research.

Who are we ?

We are a group of concerned professionals who wish to see an overarching research culture in Sri Lanka. Although high impact research takes place in our country, it is fragmented and rarely transferred into policy and practice. Therefore we are working to achieve a paradigm shift in the thinking pattern and actions of the scientific and scholarly community to create a new strategic alliance among academics, scholars, professionals and the public to build a new research culture in Sri Lanka, so that the power of knowledge in science & technology could be mobilized to address the problems of the society using an evidence-based approach, which in turn is crucial for the sustainable development of the country. In short, our slogan is ‘Research for development and policy impact’.

Our History

Initially in 1997 we started as the Forum for Research and Development which was incorporated as a non-profit, independent, academic institution and a professional network. Later it was converted into the Institute for Research & Development. During initial years of conceptualization, we realized that an initiative with a different focus and emphasis was needed to rectify the contradictory gaps existing in Sri Lanka; even with a high literacy rate in the region, Sri Lanka lacked an overarching research culture. Therefore, we decided to bring all our activities under one organization.

Our Journey

Institute for Research and Development

Our starting point all those years ago.

Institute for Research and Development

Moved to a small rented house which became our office.

Institute for Research and Development

Next we moved to another office space in Battaramulla, Colombo in 2005.

Institute for Research and Development

Private office was turned into IRD office.

Institute for Research and Development

Moved again to another house.

Institute for Research and Development

Finally moved to our current office premises in 2009.