The aim of this paper is to assess Sri Lanka’s agriculture and food situation and establish priorities for future sectoral development. The paper emphasizes the fact that sustained agricultural development requires a steady stream of innovative research. As the present research priorities are weak and communication between researchers and planners/policy makers is inadequate, the paper suggests that the research system must be streamlined through a Council for Agricultural Research Policy, to advise government on research priorities and the promotion of inter-institutional research projects. This strategy report is a summary of the major findings contained in the individual sub-sector reports and is presented for further discussion and review. The sector-wide strategies deal with the measures proposed to handle development constraints cutting across the subsectors. The sub-sectoral strategies described are not a final investment programme. They are an attempt to evaluate sub-sectoral performance, identify pressing development constraints and suggest alternative ways to overcome them. These strategies provide the framework for future investment plans in the agricultural sector.