PM says geospatial data is now a national asset

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says the future of the surveying profession depends not only on technical expertise but also on integrity, adaptability, innovation, and a strong commitment to public service.

Speaking at the Centenary Celebration of the Surveyors’ Institute of Sri Lanka, held in Colombo under the theme “Beyond Boundaries, Beyond Horizons – Mapping the Future of the World,” the Prime Minister highlighted the profession’s critical role in national development.

She noted that surveyors underpin sustainable development, efficient land management, infrastructure projects, and secure land ownership. The Government’s land ownership programme alone requires the surveying and demarcation of around 50,000 land parcels annually. Surveyors have also contributed to more than 100 irrigation reservoirs in the Northern and North Central Provinces, including the Rajarata Canal Project, where they ensured the accuracy of tunnel alignment and gradient.

PM Amarasuriya underscored that the profession’s relevance is expanding with advances in satellite technology, GIS, remote sensing, drones, AI, and digital mapping. Reliable geospatial information, she said, has become an indispensable national asset for urban planning, disaster response, and public service delivery.

She further stressed the importance of building transparent, digitally connected institutions, noting that accurate and integrated land information systems are vital for long‑term planning. Climate change, she added, has heightened the need for evidence‑based planning and resilient infrastructure, citing the recent Cyclone Ditwah and floods as reminders of the consequences of poor site selection and weak standards.

Awards recognizing lifetime service, national contributions, entrepreneurship, and memorial tributes to departed professionals were also presented during the event.

The Prime Minister concluded by urging young professionals to continuously update their skills and collaborate across disciplines, ensuring the surveying profession remains central to Sri Lanka’s sustainable development. (Newswire)

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