Sri Lanka Standards Institution
The Sri Lanka Standards Institution, the National Standards Body of the Sri Lanka, is a statutory organization established under the bureau of Ceylon Standards Act No. 38 of 1964. The Institution Functioned under its former name until the Act was repealed and replaced by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution Act No. 6 of 1984.
The Institution presently functions under the purview of the Ministry of Science and Technology and is governed by a council comprising 11 members appointed in terms of the Act. The Director General is the Chief Executive of the organization.

The activities of the Institution are handled by six technical divisions headed by Directors.

Functions of the SLSI
Standards Formulation
Certification of products and systems
Product testing facilities
Standards promotion
Training services
Information Services
Operation of a National Quality Awards Programme
Consumer services
Inspection of imported/exported products
Industrial measurement and calibration services
International co- operation

What is a Standard?
The international standards organizations (ISO) defines a standard as follows: “documents established by consensus and approved by a recognized body that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context.”
A standard may take the form of a unit of measurement such as the kilogram, metre, second or a document containing a set of requirements to be fulfilled by a product, a service etc. While the standards for units of measurement are universally accepted and applicable throughout the world, the standards for products and services may vary from country to country and from time to time. They are constantly revised to take account of new developments, to eliminate outmoded practices to cater to the changing needs of the consumer. The standards prepared by SLSI are mostly for products and processes. They describe the officially recognised levels of quality, safety requirements, durability and performance requirements of products and services that are appropriate for the Sri Lanka market. There are currently more than 1000 published Sri Lanka standards covering consumer products, industrial raw materials, agricultural products, fishery products, codes of practice, glossaries and test methods. However, with the globalisation of markets there is an increasing trend for adoption of international standards by most countries. Sri Lanka may have to follow this trend if we are to be competitive in the international markets.

How are standards implemented?
Voluntary vs. Mandatory Adoption

The producers voluntary adoption of standards may be effected in several ways.

The producer should use these standards in their own interest while the contracts for optimum benefits. The mandatory adoption is usually done by Regulatory Authorities by referring to standards in legislation. In Sri Lanka standards prepared by SLSI have been referred to in legislation by the Consumer Protection Authority, the Food Authority, Import/Export Control Authority, the Commissioner of Motor Traffic and Register of Pesticides.

Use of the Standard Mark (SLS MARK)
Operation of the SLS mark is one of the most effective ways of implementing standards. The SLS mark is available to manufacturers who can satisfy the Standards Institution - manufacturers whose design, production and quality control of a product is such that they are capable of producing an article conforming to the relevant Sri Lanka Standard consistently. SLSI monitors activities of the manufacturers on a continuous basis even after the licence is granted to use the SLS mark on the product label.

The Standards Mark benefits both the manufacturer and the purchaser. In the case of the manufacturer it provides evidence that his goods have been manufactured under an effective product assurance system to meet a given standard and also offers him protection against sub standard products.

For purchasers, the presence of the Standards Mark is an assurance by an independent body that the products have been produced under a system of supervision and control which ensures continuous compliance with the Sri Lanka Standard.

ISO 9000 Activities
The Standards Institution commenced its systems certification Scheme as per ISO 9000 series of standards in 1994. Within 2 years of the commencement of the scheme, SLSI received international recognition for its certification scheme from the world’s oldest accreditation body, namely Raad Voor Accreditatie of the Netherlands. This achievement placed SLSI on par with other certification bodies in the world. Today SLSI has a market share of over 50% of the certificates issued in Sri Lanka.

Laboratory Services
Provision of an efficient laboratory service is an essential pat of the integrated national standardsation activity. Standardisation, Quality Assurance and other related activities have to be supported by well developed laboratory testing services at national level. The Laboratories of the SLSI are equipped to provide services required for the institution’s standards development and quality assurance activities. These services are extensively used by private industries and trading bodies as well as by public institutions in large scale purchasing. The facilities now available will be further expanded to cover demand areas particularly from the export trade and industry.

Sound measurement practices in the industry form an integral part of the effective quality assurance system in the processing and manufacture of products. Regular calibration of measuring devices and instruments is an important element in the total system of quality assurance activities. As a service to the industry, in this respect, SLSI provides an industrial measurement and calibration service.

Training
The Institution provides training in standardisation and quality management for industrial personnel with a view to imparting the knowledge base required for producing good quality products. Regular programmes are conducted for all grades of industry personnel from the worker level. SLSI has been conducting such programmes since 1980 and these have been very effective in creating much needed awareness on the application of standardisation and quality management techniques in the industry.

New activities in the pipeline

ISO 14000 Certification Scheme
SLSI is taking steps to certify Environmental Management Systems as per ISO 14000 Series of Standards in the near future.

Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme for domestic electrical appliances
SLSI will soon operate an Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme for domestic electrical appliances sold in the Sri Lankan market to enable consumers to identify the appliances which consume electricity most efficiently.

HACCP Registration Scheme
The food industry in Sri Lanka will have an opportunity to certify the food safety system under the Hazard Analysis Critical control point Registration Scheme to be operated by the SLSI in the near future.

Certification of safety aspects of electrical appliances
SLSI will launch a programme to test the safety aspects of electrical appliances and issue a safety mark to those appliances which conform to Standards.

Source: SLSI

For further details please see: http://www.naresa.ac.lk/slsi