Dr Prabath C. Abeysiriwardana (Director (Planning), Ministry of Science and Technology) and Prof Theekshana Suraweera (Chairman, Sri Lanka Standards Institution)
Strong regulations are the backbone of any modern society. They don’t just enforce rules; they guide innovation responsibly, protect people, and keep markets fair. When done right, regulations spark growth and progress; when done poorly, they can stall the economy and hold back science and technology. In today’s fast-paced world, where innovation is racing ahead, the intersection of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and Science & Technology (S&T) has become the frontline of smart, evidence-driven governance.
A Small Story: When Regulations Went Wrong
A few years ago, Government “abc” innovators began transforming agricultural practices using drones for fertilizer application and crop health monitoring. The results were stunning. Yield gains. Reduced labor. Lower environmental impact. Then, operations stalled.
Existing aviation regulations had been designed only for hobby drones and model aircraft. Approval pathways were slow. Ground safety rules were unclear. Importation processes lacked classification for advanced systems. Small agritech companies were soon stuck in queues instead of fields.
Government agencies realized the issue was not technology, but outdated rules. A structured RIA process began. Stakeholders from research institutes, farmer organizations, telecom providers, and safety authorities were at the table. The new framework streamlined permissions, embraced mapping technology, strengthened local manufacturing possibilities, and ensured responsible use. RIA saved innovation from being suffocated by yesterday’s rules.
What is a Regulation?
Laws set the broad rules, but they can’t cover every detail. That’s where regulations come in. They are the step-by-step instructions that make laws work in practice, guiding behavior and ensuring compliance.
Example: A law may demand food safety, but a regulation spells out that all packaged food must carry labels showing ingredients, expiration dates, and nutrition facts.
Regulations serve a clear purpose: protecting people, promoting fairness, safeguarding the environment, and enabling innovation. They touch everything from medicine to satellites and must stay in tune with science, technology, and the economy.
A Brief History of RIA (Global and Sri Lankan Context)
RIA emerged in the United States in the late 1970s when policymakers began asking a new question: “Are regulations actually solving the problem?” The approach was later championed by the OECD as a core principle of “Better Regulation.” By the early 2000s, countries across Europe and Asia integrated RIA into policy development.
Sri Lanka’s journey with RIA is more recent and runs parallel to broader public sector modernization efforts. Early support from international development partners encouraged key ministries to adopt improved regulatory practices, particularly in areas related to trade, investment, and innovation. The Ministry of Science and Technology played a pioneering role by introducing RIA from a broader perspective, guided by the National Quality Policy of 2016 and the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) framework implemented between 2018 and 2022. These initiatives marked a significant step in embedding evidence-based, science-driven assessment into Sri Lanka’s regulatory ecosystem.
Why RIA Matters
RIA ensures that regulations:
- Solve real problems rather than imagined ones
- Generate public benefits greater than their costs
- Consider multiple policy options
- Engage industry, universities, and communities
- Include mechanisms for ongoing monitoring and accountability
Thus, better regulation protects citizens while keeping doors open for creativity and entrepreneurship, because regulations are more than rules – they are powerful instruments that can either accelerate or stifle innovation. In the next issue, we will explore how S&T, through institutions like the NQI and the Ministry of S&T, provides the engine for stronger, evidence-based RIA that safeguards public welfare while promoting innovation.
