Origins and National Significance

When Sri Lanka gained independence, Prime Minister Hon. D. S. Senanayake and his government emphasized agricultural development with the goal of making the country self sufficient in food. As part of this vision, the Gal Oya Valley Development Project was launched, marking the first major national river basin development initiative.

To execute this project, the government formed the Gal Oya Development Board, giving it full control over the region and its development activities.

Establishment of the Regional Technical Training Institute

As development work began, a shortage of trained technical staff became a critical challenge. At that time, the Ceylon Technical College in Maradana was the only major technical institution in the country. To meet the growing demand, the Gal Oya Development Board established its own Technical Training Institute in Ampara under its administration.

With assistance from the Colombo Plan Bureau, and following the FAO Regional Technical Meeting on Farm Mechanization in 1955, the Institute became the Regional Technical Training Institute for South and Southeast Asia.

Prof. Evan A. Hardy, Founder Director

Prof. Evan A. Hardy, an FAO expert from Canada, was appointed as the Institute’s first Director. He designed the curriculum, recruited staff, equipped laboratories and workshops, and established facilities for sports, recreation, and student accommodation.

He introduced the model of combining practical on the job training with intensive theoretical instruction, a principle that continues to influence technical education in Sri Lanka.

Growth as a Regional Institution

The Institute trained students from countries across South and Southeast Asia including Burma, Indonesia, Nepal, Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. While academic staff handled theory, experts from the Gal Oya Development Board provided invaluable hands on field training in areas such as hydropower, irrigation, and highway engineering.

Evolution and Structural Changes

In 1963, after the passing of Prof. Hardy on the Institute premises, the government renamed the institution the Hardy Senior Technical Institute in recognition of his remarkable contribution.

Over the decades, administrative changes resulted in the transition of programs to other national institutions, including the University of Moratuwa. Despite these challenges, Hardy Institute continued diploma programs in Technology, Commerce, and Trade.

Modern Era and Legacy

In 1996, the Institute joined the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) network and was renamed the Hardy Advanced Technological Institute. Programs were upgraded to Higher National Diplomas, continuing the mission of advancing technological education.

Plans are underway to reintroduce programs in Engineering Technology and Information Technology, preserving Hardy’s legacy as a national center of excellence.