How to Use This Book
The Technology stream is the newest stream of the Sri Lankan G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L). It was introduced in 2013 to open a path to higher education and skilled careers for students whose strengths lie in applied, practical, and technical learning (GCE Advanced Level in Sri Lanka, n.d.; Daily FT, n.d.). Instead of the purely academic emphasis of the Physical Science stream, it joins theory and practice: students study a common subject, Science for Technology (SFT), together with a specialist subject, Engineering Technology (ET) or Bio-Systems Technology (BST), and a third subject chosen from a list of options such as ICT, Agricultural Science, Economics, or Geography.
A graduate of this stream can become an engineering technologist, an agricultural, food, or environmental technologist, a skilled professional in industry, an entrepreneur, a teacher, or a researcher. State universities now run Faculties of Technology that award the Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Honours) and the Bachelor of Biosystems Technology (Honours) (University of Sri Jayewardenepura, n.d.-a, n.d.-b).
This book is a single guide for students in this stream. It aims to do four things: to explain the stream, the examination, and the pathways to university and work; to teach the science, mathematics, and ICT of the SFT subject; to cover the principles and practice of Engineering Technology and of Bio-Systems Technology; and to teach the study, practical, and project skills that this stream demands.
How the book is organized.
Part One: The Technology Stream Pathway (Chapters 1–3) explains the stream, university and career routes, and how to study and be examined.
Part Two: Science for Technology (Chapters 4–10) covers measurement and mathematics for technology, mechanics, heat and waves, electricity and electronics, chemistry, biology, and ICT.
Part Three: Engineering Technology (Chapters 11–15) covers engineering drawing, materials and workshop technology, mechanical technology, electrical and electronic technology, and civil and construction technology.
Part Four: Bio-Systems Technology (Chapters 16–20) covers crop production, soil and water, plant protection and post-harvest technology, food technology and safety, animal and aquatic production, biotechnology and environmental technology, and agribusiness.
Part Five: Projects, Planning, and Practice (Chapters 21–22) covers technology projects, professional practice, and a two-year plan.
Appendices provide formulae, units and conversions, safety signs, and a glossary.
A student takes SFT plus either ET or BST (not both), so Parts Three and Four are alternatives. Students can still read both, because many ideas (energy, materials, water, safety, and quality) are shared.
A note on the syllabus. The content, time allocations, and examination format of each subject are set by the National Institute of Education (NIE) and the Department of Examinations, and they are revised from time to time. The Ministry of Education has also announced a programme of education reform that begins in 2026 and may eventually affect the senior grades (Sunday Observer, 2025). Always follow the current NIE syllabus, teacher’s guide, and the Department of Examinations circulars for the exact topics and examination structure. This book covers the science and technology that underlie the stream, and it describes the stream’s structure from the sources listed in the references. Where it describes the structure of the syllabus or the rules of admission, readers should verify the details against the official sources.
A note on sources. In-text citations use APA 7th edition (author, year). They refer to standard textbooks and reference works for the science and technology, to international standards and accords for engineering technology, to studies of effective learning, and to web sources about the Sri Lankan system checked in October 2026. Full references are at the end of the book. Textbooks are cited for the established content they contain, and page numbers are not given.
A note on safety. Practical work in a workshop, laboratory, or farm involves real hazards: electricity, machinery, heat, chemicals, sharp tools, and biological materials. This book describes principles; it does not replace the instruction of a qualified teacher or the safety rules of your institution. Never carry out a practical task without supervision and the correct protective equipment.