Senior Professor Ashoka Kumara

Fundamental research is driven by curiosity and the pursuit of original knowledge that advances human understanding.

The National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) is the only institution in Sri Lanka exclusively mandated to conduct fundamental research. The NIFS Act defines its objective as to “initiate, promote and conduct research and original investigations into fundamental studies in general, with particular emphasis on mathematics, physical and chemical sciences, life sciences, and social sciences, each taken in the broadest sense.”

The Institute is also authorized to collaborate with public and private organizations to develop applications arising from its fundamental research and to promote activities leading to postgraduate degrees. As we move forward, we aim to expand our research themes by encouraging innovative projects in cutting-edge areas of fundamental science while strengthening existing programmes to address more challenging scientific problems and achieve greater national and international recognition.

I warmly invite researchers, students, collaborators, and stakeholders to engage with NIFS in its mission to advance fundamental studies in Sri Lanka.