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The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) with financial contributions from the Norway Government (NORAD) has assisted the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) to enhance the national capacity for accurate and internationally traceable calibration by upgrading and modernising the ITI laboratory with the objective of obtaining international accreditation. The project is part of the UNIDO Integrated Industrial Development Support Program for Sri Lanka relating to the component 'Quality, Standardisation and Metrology.'

Metrology, the science of measurement, plays a vital role in modern life. At present Sri Lanka does not have a single internationally accredited metrology laboratory and many industrial establishments servicing international clients have to send their test and measuring equipment to overseas calibration laboratories to meet the quality system requirements of their clients.

As a first step, Dr. Lalith Goonatilake, the team leader of the program, recommended that an assessment of the status of metrology institutional infrastructure in the country be made with the main objective of taking stock of the equipment and facilities available so as to make recommendations towards improving the situation. A national metrology expert, Dr. G. M. S. de Silva, was recruited and on his recommendations, UNIDO decided to strengthen the ITI metrology laboratory.

The UNIDO and NORAD intervention, supported by the Government of Sri Lanka, provided assistance to upgrade the facilities of the Metrology and Instrumentation Division of the ITI to obtain international accreditation.

The Government provided financial assistance of Rs. 6.5 million for renovation and refurbishing of the existing laboratory building while UNIDO and NORAD contributed Rs. 10 million for the purchase and installation of a fully sophisticated central environmental control system to achieve the required temperature and humidity conditions acceptable to international levels in the mass, electricity pressure volumetric, temperature and dimensional laboratories.

UNIDO and NORAD have also provided equipment worth US$ 500,000. This equipment has now been installed and commissioned.

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