SLCARP has initiated a Capacity Building Programme in 2018 with a Cabinet approval to provide Post Graduate Training to NARS Scientists as most of the scientists of the NARS did not have Post Graduate qualifications and this situation was a hindrance to carry out sound research programmes.  Duration of the said programme is five years from 2018 to 2022 and Rs. 300.00 Mn was allocated for each year. This programme is funded by the Sri Lankan Government.

Since 2018, under this Capacity Building Programme, 79 scholarships have been given to officers of NARS and they have enrolled in PhD or MSc degree programmes at different universities in Asian countries; India, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. SLCARP as the sponsor institute, has facilitated to the students. 

Under this programme, Ms Nadeesha Dilani Hettige, Senior Scientist, Environmental Studies Division, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) has completed her PhD degree and submitted  the thesis to the Chairman and Secretary /Director,  SLCARP on 06^th September 2022. Her research topic was a “New Model for Organic Contamination Assessments using Benthic Macroinvertebrates as Biological Indicators”. This finding is very important to monitor quality of the water by using biological agent in the water resources in a country like Sri Lanka.