Abstract:
i gi olochnology & Community Service Center, University of Colombo located in a rural
|iC/or at Weligatta, Hambantota (250 km from capital Colombo) is an on-going project
tii u:o 2000, on rural de velopment through science & technology. This is the first ever kind
i in voloped by a University system in Sri Lanka in collaboration with government & other
| •< ganizations. The attempt is also made to educate and empower the rural women and
llmroby to improve rural economy. Through the Science & Technology (S&T) activities,
(/to potential for improvement of rural sector income was clearly seen. Both men and
women showed enthusiasm to take up novel technology but in different aspects: women
"inro in in-house science & technology such as processed food technology and
mushroom cultivations while men in outdoor cultivations. It also revealed that when
women are empowered, the family in general is looked after as the burden on the women
who contribute significantly to the health and wealth of the family. The training
i a i igrammes conducted clearly showed the enthusiasm among the young, to adopt novel
im-.hnologyin agriculture. It also showed the capabilities of the youngergeneration in the
11 a nl sector and their commitment. Also there was a clear economic improvement of the
people: a ten-fold increase through the use ofS& Tin the cultivations. Increased income
I fer all the stakeholders is the main driving force in the success of adopting new
tov.hnology. Indirectly crimes would be reduced as work is available and villages have a
| ttope forthemselves and their children: a tendency already seen in the area
