The Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka and the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) successfully convened a two-day national workshop on “Building Partnerships for Agroecological Transformation: Developing a Collaborative Action Plan for Sri Lanka.”

The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including senior governent officials, farmer representatives, researchers, technical experts, cooperative leaders, and civil society organizations to develop a shared vision for transforming Sri Lanka’s food system through agroecology.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramaarachchi, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, and was attended by representatives from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development Centre (SARDC), Field Crops Research and Development Institute, Horticultural Crops Research and Development Institute, Fruit Research and Development Institute, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, Seed Certification and Plant Protection Centre, Natural Resources Management Centre, Socio Economics and Planning Centre, National Plant Quarantine Service, Department of Agrarian Development, Department of Cooperative Development, Department of Cinnamon Development, Department of Animal Production and Health, Agricultural and Environmental Professionals Cooperative Society, farmer representatives from across the country, and members of MONLAR.

Through interactive discussions, technical presentations, and collaborative planning, participants jointly explored strategies to promote agroecology as a pathway to sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, biodiversity conservation, improved farmer livelihoods, and national food sovereignty. Together, they initiated the development of a collaborative national action plan with a shared vision, mission, and institutional commitment to advancing agroecological transformation in Sri Lanka.

As a significant outcome of the workshop, participants agreed to establish a National Action Committee to lead and coordinate the collaborative process. The committee will be jointly coordinated by co-secretaries from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development Centre (SARDC) of the Department of Agriculture and MONLAR, while the Secretariat will be hosted at the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development Centre (SARDC) in Makandura.

To ensure focused implementation, three thematic sub-committees were also established:

• Policy, Legal Reform and Mobilization
• Extension, Training, Research and Development
• Market and Entrepreneurship Development

The active participation of farmers alongside policymakers, researchers, and civil society demonstrated a shared commitment to building an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food system for Sri Lanka. This collaborative platform marks an important milestone in strengthening partnerships to accelerate the country’s transition towards agroecology.