Rice Research Station - Ambalanthota

Rice Research Station (RRS), Ambalantota is one of a satellite station under the purview of Rice Research and Development Institute, Batalagoda. The station is located in Southern province of Hambantota district in Sri Lanka. Being situated in the dry zone (DL ₅) of the country its prime objectives are to develop improved red-pericarp, salinity tolerant, short age and high yielding rice varieties with improved grain quality attributes. The station also responsible for developing related technologies to improve productivity especially in low country dry zone areas and producing of breeder seeds of recommended “At” rice varieties. The station was established in 1927 at Thissamaharama. In 1942 it was shifted to Ambalantota to carry out paddy research programme. It has a long history in rice breeding since 1954 and it could release 14 promising rice varieties to the nation by now. Out of these fourteen, At 362 a red pericarp long medium variety is identified as the most popular grown rice variety in Sri Lanka offering more than 10 t/ha of yield. Among the fourteen varieties At 354 and At 401 were released to general cultivation to cater the abiotic stresses especially for saline soil conditions. These two varieties having white and red pericarp are also considered under 3½ and 4 month age groups respectively.  RRS, is the first institute in Sri Lanka, have developed white, long slender aromatic Basmathi type rice varieties; namely At 405, At 306 and At 309. These three varieties also having special quality attributes are used to prepare rice crackers by local biscuit manufacturers. In 2015 it could release the first red pericarp long- slender and aromatic rice variety At 311 to the nation. An ultra-small white, aromatic rice grain was developed by the institute and named “Ambalantota suwanda samba (At 373)”. Further, At 308, At 307, At 353 and At 402 are some of the other popular rice varieties which were released by this institute for general cultivation. Head of the institute is designated as the Deputy Director (Research) who has to report to the Director of the Rice Research and Development Institute, Batatalagoda. Currently, eight technical officers are engaged in research and development programmes of the institute. Additionally, five officers involve in administrative work at the institute. Morethan forty minor staff members assist the field and laboratory research work. There are mainly four divisions namely plant breeding, postharvest and grain quality, agronomy and soil management and plant protection. This institute continues to plays a major role in supplying the growing demand of the farmers, developing new technologies and solving the issues in rice sector in Sri Lankan Agriculture.

Mandate of the center

 Contribution to obtain national sustainability of  rice production, through conducting research on developing promising varieties under dry zone conditions having high yielding, tolerance to salinity, major pest and diseases and by fulfilling the current national requirements on plant protection, agronomy, post-harvest and grain quality