The Technical Cooperation Project of ‘Asia Regional Fall Armyworm and Brown Plant Hopper Diagnostics and Monitoring Surveillance Program ‘ is being carrried out by the Plant Protection Service of Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. This Technical Cooperation Project is in collaboration with the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Iniative (AFACI).

As a a part of this project, The 2024 AFACI Project Technical Workshop on PMP+ on Molecular Diagnostics was successfully conducted from 2nd to 6th September, 2024, at Oak Ray Regency Hotel, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

The workshop commenced under the initiative and guidance of Ms. Kamani Ranathunga, Director General of Agriculture and Dr. Samanthi Wasala, Additional Director General (Research). The Principal Investigator of the project, Mr. K.M.D.W Prabath Nishantha, Additional Director (Plant Protection), rendered his immeasurable service by organizing the event. Delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka participated in the workshop.

The workshop was led by renowned experts on pest genomics, Dr. Tek Tay, leader of the Pest Genomics Team at Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Black Mountain and Dr. Alison Watson, Head of the ASEAN FAW Action Plan. They shared their expertise on advanced molecular diagnostic techniques and their application in pest management strategies.

The workshop aimed at enhancing the capacity of participating countries in molecular diagnostics, a critical skill for the effective implementation of the PMP+ project.