HYDERABAD: Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, and Sri Lankan academic institutions have agreed to strengthen academic cooperation through faculty exchange and joint agricultural research, focusing on rice, fruit crops and other agricultural commodities facing similar pest and disease challenges in both countries.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between SAU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal and Dr. Amani Mannakkara, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, who is visiting the university under the Pakistan–Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation Program supported by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.
The meeting focused on developing long-term collaboration in agricultural research, particularly on insect pests affecting rice and horticultural crops, which continue to cause significant production losses in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The two sides agreed to promote joint research projects, faculty and postgraduate student exchanges, scientific publications, comparative studies, and the exchange of research material, technical expertise and innovative crop-protection technologies.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal said Sindh Agriculture University was expanding its research portfolio in line with changing climatic conditions and future agricultural needs.
He said the university was conducting research on a range of crops, fruits and tree species, with the objective of promoting climate-resilient and diversified agriculture.
He said Pakistan and Sri Lanka shared common agricultural challenges, particularly fruit flies affecting horticultural crops and insect pests damaging rice production.
Closer collaboration between researchers, he added, would facilitate the development of sustainable solutions through integrated pest management, biological control, pest surveillance, insect ecology and environmentally friendly crop-protection practices.
Dr. Amani Mannakkara said the University of Ruhuna was keen to undertake collaborative research with SAU on rice and horticultural crops and to benefit from the university’s expertise in pulses, onion and other agricultural commodities. She described international faculty exchange programs as an effective platform for strengthening scientific cooperation, academic excellence and institutional partnerships between the two countries.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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