To ensure proper coordination among line ministries within overall budgetary framework, and also with the private sector, it is expected to appoint a Committee of Officials comprising of Secretaries to HE the President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet of Ministers including the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Science Technology and Research.

The anticipated outcome would be:

• Co-ordination of activities with Ministries related to subject areas such as science, research, technology, education, information technology, industry, skills development and engineering services with the objective of scientific development in Sri Lanka
• Co-ordination and review of programmes implemented by relevant institutions aiming to utilize scientific, research and technology sectors for national development

Accordingly, an outline and framework for the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy was proposed to the Cabinet on 22 July 2011 and it was approved by the Cabinet on 21 August 2011. It was also observed that the General Treasury has agreed to provide necessary facilities to strengthen the unit responsible for coordination. As stated in the Strategy itself and as observed by the Cabinet of Ministers, one of the main hurdles to overcome in implementing this strategy was the lack of a suitable coordination and monitoring mechanism which would draw in all the concerned line ministries, institutions and the private sector.

As per the Cabinet decision in August 2011 it was outlined the necessity of following mechanisms and tools to be implemented for coordination;

• Virtual Innovation Institutes and Clusters at National and Provincial level to link the coordinating framework to physical institutions.
• National Coordinating Committees, sub committees and Councils.
• Convening coordination forums/ meetings/ workshops etc.
• Directives/ circulars
• Mobilizing resources, consultancies, assignments.
• ICT enabled Information gathering mechanism for monitoring of progress and needs assessment.

To implement above The Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology & Innovation (COSTI) was established on 1st Feb 2013. COSTI’s main objectives are;

• Establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee for Science Technology and Innovation to coordinate all activities including funding in Science Technology and Innovation with Ministers of Science, Technology and Research, Higher Education, Agriculture, Plantations, Industry and Commerce, National Resources and Enterprise Development, Education, Youth Affairs and Skills Development, Telecommunication and Information Technology and Information and Mass Media.
• Setting up of National Operational and Coordinating Councils
• Establishment of a Secretariat to centralize, institutionalize and support the Coordination and Monitoring activities related to S, T and I.
• Development and operationalization of National Science, Technology & Innovation Coordination and Monitoring System (NSTICAMS) – a flexible, comprehensive National ICT Platform for coordination and Monitoring of all activities related to Science, Technology and Innovation across 17 ministries and more than 70 institutions.