Introduction

Rural Development Training and Research Institute (RDTRI), established in 1974, was the primary and leading public institution which applied the participatory development approach in development arena in this country. In 1978, the Rural Development Training and Research Institute applied the change agent methodology to the development field. Functional research methodology was also introduced by RDTRI to the field of development, for the first time in Sri Lanka. We have also been instrumental in promoting the community participation in leading public programmes such as Janasaviya,Samurdhiand Gamanegumawhich were implemented in this country through the application of social mobilization approach. Currently the RDTRI is functioning under four (03) major divisions, viz. training, research, publication and planning. 

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Programmes Implemented

Training

Operations in this division of training are carried out with the objective of building the awareness amongst the development campaigners who contribute immensely to the national development. Building knowledge and awareness amongst the development activists, social mobilizers and the individuals of the community based organizations who are directly involved in the development programmes at national and regional level is foremost here. While developing knowledge, skills and attitudes within these development activists, training programs are implemented under number training fields, to transform them to innovative and creative individuals. These training programmes are implemented with the assistance of a board of internal and external resource persons complete with special competencies and skills specifically required for the field of training and the training programmes for the year 2019 are outlined as follows.

• Conduct Annual Training Programs
• Conduct Mediator Development Training Programs
• Conduct Action Training Program for empower the low income families by Family Development Program

 Research

This institution which was initiated alongside the Change Agent Functional Research Programme in 1978, has made his contribution to the national development programmes implemented within Sri Lanka through its research, surveys and case studies and its programmes within the year 2019 will be implemented as follows.

• Open forum on poverty alleviation and Rural Development
• Coordination of  Prajashakthi Organizations
• Case study Research programs
• Action Research Village programs
• Researches/Surveys  on   poverty alleviation related programs
• Research Symposium for out sider Researchers   on poverty Alleviation and Social Empowerment
• Data base on Rural Development Societies in all Island

Publications

With the intention of providing development experience to the development activists who play a pivotal role in national development, few publications are released by the RDTRI annually. Where;

• Publish the Prajashakthi  magazine
• Preparation of tharanaya news letter (Biannual)

Accessible Facilities

Library Facilities

The library of the RDTRI is equally useful for the all the development campaigners, development workers, and for those who are involved in studies related to such activities as well. The library is equipped with nearly 6000 local and foreign books on diverse subject areas such as, Linguistics, Economics, Politics, Sociology, Development, Rural Development, History, Gender Studies, Falklore, Management and Psychology etc. Especially there are books of very rare caliber written on Development and Rural Development and the opportunities have also been made available to read as well as to buy the research papers, academic books and the periodicals (magazines) published by the institution on this subject area. The library is open from 09.00 a.m. until 03.00 p.m. on working days of the week.

Training Facilities

•     Borella Head Office

    Lecture hall No: 01    - facilities up to 60 participants
    Lecture hall No: 02    - facilities up to 40 participants
    Multimedia projector facilities
    Resident training facilities up to 30 individuals

•     Pilimathalawa Training Center  

    Auditorium- Facilities for 200 participants
    Lecture hall No: 01    - facilities up to 40 participants
    Lecture hall No: 02    - facilities up to 40 participants
    Lecture hall No: 03    - facilities up to 80 participants
    Lecture hall No: 04    - facilities up to 80 participants
    Cafeteria – facilities for 100 individuals
    Multimedia projector facilities
    Resident training facilities for 100 individuals