Faculty of Agriculture

Overview

Flood Damage : Faculty of Agriculture

Cyclone Ditwah has caused catastrophic damage to the Faculty of Agriculture, destroying critical infrastructure across the Animal Science, Soil Science, and Agricultural Engineering departments. This devastation has paralyzed academic and research operations essential to Sri Lanka’s food security. As restoration requirements exceed available resources, we urgently appeal for external support to rebuild our laboratories and classrooms.

Generations of graduates, researchers, and innovators from this faculty have shaped Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector and continue to influence national policy, productivity, and resilience.

The Crisis & Our Response

Restoring What Truly Matters

Cyclone Ditwah dealt a devastating blow to the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka's leading centre for agricultural higher education and research. Across four departments, laboratories, essential equipment, and critical academic infrastructure were severely damaged by flooding, with preliminary losses estimated at approximately LKR 250 million.

In response, the Faculty has made a deliberate and principled choice. We are prioritizing academic continuity. We are not seeking funds for vehicle replacement or major building repairs. Instead, we are focusing exclusively on restoring the laboratories, equipment, and learning environments essential for teaching, research, and student training.

Your support, at any scale, will have a direct and lasting impact. It will help ensure students can graduate on time, researchers can continue their work, and Sri Lankan agriculture remains resilient, innovative, and globally competitive.

Damage Report

Affected Facilities

Agricultural Engineering

  • • Farm machinery & equipment
  • • Field training facilities
  • • Irrigation & mechanization systems

Department of Animal Science

  • • Teaching laboratories
  • • Research facilities
  • • Farm support systems

Soil Science Laboratories

  • • Soil testing instruments
  • • Sample storage areas
  • • Safety systems

Department of Crop Science

  • • Teaching laboratories
  • • Greenhouses & experimental plots
  • • Seed storage & crop research units

Food Science & Technology

  • • Food processing laboratories
  • • Quality control & testing units
  • • Cold rooms & storage facilities

Shared Teaching & Research Facilities

  • • Cold rooms & central stores
  • • Postgraduate laboratories
  • • Common teaching spaces
Equipment Loss

Laboratory & Facility Damage

Flood damage to Animal Science Laboratory

Animal Science Laboratory

Floodwaters caused severe damage to laboratory infrastructure and essential teaching equipment used for animal nutrition, dairy, meat processing, and applied livestock research. Restoration focuses on enabling uninterrupted academic programs and practical training.

  • Laboratory instruments and analytical tools
  • Feed processing and preparation equipment
  • Pumps and environmental control systems
Flood damage to Soil Science Laboratory

Soil Science Laboratory & Store

Flooding compromised soil microbiology and analytical laboratories, including cold storage, sterilization facilities, and safety systems required for undergraduate practicals and national soil research programs.

  • Soil testing and analytical instruments
  • Storage racks, sample cabinets, and shelving units
  • Laboratory safety cabinets and containment units
Impact Summary

Faculty of Agriculture - Overall Damage Assessment

Infrastructure & Facilities

Severe flooding damaged teaching laboratories, field training facilities, greenhouses, farm structures, irrigation systems, and shared academic spaces across multiple departments.

Laboratory Equipment & Assets

Essential laboratory instruments, analytical equipment, cold storage units, pumps, and research tools were rendered inoperable or unsafe for continued academic use.

Academic & Research Disruption

Undergraduate practicals, postgraduate research, national advisory services, and industry-linked research activities were significantly disrupted across the faculty.

Estimated Total Recovery Requirement

Based on preliminary assessments and departmental reports, the Faculty of Agriculture requires substantial investment to restore academic, research, and training functions.

Rs. 246+ Million (Estimated)

Download Report
Recovery

Related Recovery Projects

Department of Agricultural Biology

AGR 01

Essential chemicals and laboratory consumables to restart the academic program following the week-long power failure that destroyed supplies. E.g., PCR Master mix, primers, DNA ladders, PGEM(R)-T Easy Vector System II including JM109 Competent cells, Restriction enzymes, Proteinase K, GoScript Reverse transcription system, Type-it HRM PCR kit, Sybr Green PCR Kit, cDNA synthesis kit, RotorGene SYBR Green PCR Kit, Glycogen, Trolox- 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8- tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, Restriction Enzyme PSt I, Bam HI, SAI I, Hae III, Dra I, Ligase, etc.

Rs. 10,720,662

Department of Animal Science - Laboratory and Support Infrastructure Improvement

AGR 05

Three integrated rehabilitation packages will upgrade laboratory infrastructure and key dairy and meat processing facilities in the Department of Animal Science, strengthening practical training opportunities for students. Cold Room & Freezer Infrastructure, Restoration of Poultry Research Unit, Laboratory Animal Research Unit and Sea Weed Cultivation Unit, Furniture, Chemicals etc.

Rs. 27.45 Million

Department of Soil Science

AGR 10

The Department’s Soil Science Microbiology Laboratories require a coordinated package of investments to restore full teaching and research capacity. Priority needs include cold storage and sterilization facilities in the Soil Microbiology Laboratory to maintain microbial cultures, together with advanced analytical equipment and other specialized instruments for soil and microbial analysis. The Department of Soil Science has sustained additional losses due to damage to the laboratory building and vehicles.

Rs. 95 Million