- the National Research Council (NRC) has been established in 2007 as a Special Agency and the main objective of establishing the NRC is to assist the Government to plan, coordinate and facilitate research in Science and Technology. The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Technology and Research, to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft legislation for the establishment of the NRC as a Statutory Entity, was approved by the Cabinet.