The opening ceremony of new ‘National Referral Laboratory for the Detection and Identification of Genetically Modified Organisms’

The ‘National Referral Laboratory for the Detection and Identification of Genetically Modified Organisms’ established at the Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (AgBC) of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya was declared open on 28th June 2022, under the patronage of the Vice- chancellor Prof. M.D. Lamawansa and Director, Biodiversity Secretariat Ministry of Environment, Mrs. R.H.M.P. Abeykoon. It was a hybrid event and around 130 invitees attended including Mr. Sharan Vimlendra, the FAO representative to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. After a competitive proposal evaluation process, the Biosafety Project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Ministry of Environment through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations selected the AgBC lab to be upgraded as the only National Referral Lab. The pro

ject funded the lab renovation, the equipment, and basic supplies. The AgBC applied to the SLAB for Accreditation (ISO-17025) for testing the GMO in June 2022.20th June 2022.