Although this is one of the main objectives of conservation, very little use of the Forest was made for education and research until quite recently. However, today the North-Western area is being actively used for this purpose. It is important that this trend continues, and maximum use be made of the whole Forest as a natural resource laboratory. This will provide one of the main justifications for its protection.

                        The importance of educational and awareness-creating programmes cannot be over-emphasized particularly because of the role they play in fostering local support. Due to higher standards of literacy and education, the youth of these villages are especially receptive to conservation ideals and are capable of fully understanding conservation strategies and objectives.

                        In the past, forestry officials and administrators as well as research scientists have not taken any special interest in the problems of local people. This must be replaced by a more sympathetic attitude towards the villagers way of life and values, so that a dynamic and meaningful partnership could be established linking the technical expertise and scientific wisdom of the forester and researcher.

                        Research studies in Sinharaja, in the past, have examined the basic ecological characteristic of the flora and fauna. Applied research on plants of medical and commercial value, is currently in progress, yet there is a vast amount more that needs to be investigated. Systemic geological and geographical studies too need to be established and socioeconomic and demographic data relating to the local population must be collected. The work done in different fields must be integrated, and researchers encouraged to collaborate with one another. The work done in Sinharaja should be publicized regularly and made available to the scientist as well as to the interested non-scientist.

                         The research done in the past few years is the result of the determined and dedicated efforts of a few pioneer scientists. Their regular visits and enthusiastic activity have contributed much to the protection of the Sinharaja today. It is no secret that these pioneers worked in the face of very grate difficulties with no facilities at all. Although research facilities exist today, they are still very basic and are available only in the North-Western end of the Reserve. Provision therefore must be made for proper research facilities, and for setting-up research stations in other parts of the Reserve as well. This will reduce the one area available. At the same time it will contribute to better protection of the other areas as well. 

                         As awareness spreads, the desire for more knowledge also grows. Dissemination of knowledge therefore and become a useful tool in helping to preserve the forest. Thus it is desirable that an Information Centre be set up. This could be regularly update as research brings new discoveries to light. The Centre could also include a herbarium and a museum and be the distribution office for literature on the forest. Such activities could begin in the North-Western part of the Reserve and be expanded to other parts as well. This will also provide employment opportunities to local youth as nature guides for expedition into the forests.

                          However well co-ordinated plants may be, nothing can succeed if funds are not available. Fortunately for the Sinharaja the activities carried out have received generous carried out have received generous funding from many international funding from many international organizations such as the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the International Foundation of Science (IFS) is Sweden, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada. The current programmes executed by the IUCN are funded by the Norwegian Development C0-0peration (NORAD). The one local institution while ahs generously supported research activities in the past, and still continues to support them actively is the Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority (NARESA). The growing awareness of the need to conserve natural resources, both nationally and internationally, favours the granting of increased funding for work in places such as the Sinharaja Reserve.