The President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the Malaihar Institute of Bio-resource Technology at Kotagala on March 18, 2006 in the presence of the H.E. Smt. Nirupama Rao, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. The Institute has been set up under the guidance of Indian agricultural and rural development expert Mr. Rajbir Singh.