Local inventor Mr. Sunil Withanachchi of Electro-Mechanical Designers & Industrial Fabricators- SD TECHNOFAB and the chair of the ‘Think Tank' on Inventions at IRD was awarded the prize under the category of ‘Engineering product design and development for commercial applications' at the National Science and Technology Awards 2006. It was his locally designed and made, innovated steering controlled hand tractor; the HARDYMEC LOAD MASTER and the HARDYMEC HYDROCAB Hoist that won him this award.

The presentation was made by His Excellency the President, Mahinda Rajapakse at a ceremony held at the Presidential secretariat on 10th November 2006 commemorating the World Science Day. It was organised by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Ministry of Science & Technology.

This innovated hand tractor is locally designed and manufactured for agricultural and small scale transportation utilities in mind, while filling the present vacuum for a new vehicle between the conventional tiller & modern light truck. It has many innovative features making it safer, faster and more comfortable than the conventional hand tractor while keeping it at an affordable price with lowest running & maintenance costs. The hoist option of this product is far cheaper than the imported hoist vehicles, yet has added features not found in them.

Mr. Sunil Withanachchi of SD Technofab in Manampita, Talgaswela, Galle had developed this tractor in 1999, but was denied proper registration of the vehicle by the Motor Traffic Commission. He had to go to the extent of four years of legal rumbling before the product was recognised by the authorities. The obstacles that he had to face before reaching this stage would have discouraged most people. Up to now more than 40 government and private institutions have purchased these products, thus saving valuable foreign exchange of our country.

The FRD had identified Mr. Withanachchi and his inventions in 2004 when he was featured in the Journal Gaveshana, published by the FRD. When the NSF called for applications for National Science and Technology Awards 2006, FRD nominated Mr. Sunil Withanachchi and his innovations under the categories ‘Engineering product design and development for commercial applications' and ‘ Development of viable substitutes for imports' . A meticulous evaluation process by the NSF preceded the selection of Mr. Withanachchi and his products for the award. The true value of this award comes with Mr. Withanachchie's achievement of dealing with the frustrating bureaucratic hurdles in our system, the culture of looking down on ‘locally made' products and the great economic cost with huge debts that he faced in the process.

The FRD and Mr. Sunil Withanachchi takes this opportunity to commend the steps taken by the government and the NSF for active mediation in the field of science & technology including this type of recognition and encouragement for scientists and inventors.