Prof. Warnapala seeks Korean help for education sector

Higher Education Minister Prof. Wiswa Warnapala is addressing the government agencies and universities of South Korea to generate more investments for the higher education sector.

Prof. Warnapala had a preliminary discussion with a delegation of eminent educationist led by Professor. Ko Yeong Jin, Vice Chancellor of the International University of Korea as a first step of getting assistance from universities in South Korea.

The discussion was held at the Higher Education Ministry in Colombo.

Speaking of the financial assistance Sri Lanka gets from South Korea, the Minister noted that annually Sri Lanka is benefited by a grant of US $ 20 million from South Korea for a single project launched in Sri Lanka. Thousands of technicians, skilled and semi-skilled Sri Lankan workers employed in various projects in South Korea remit foreign exchange to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is one of the biggest beneficiaries of foreign direct investment from Republic of Korea, he said.

"However, this is the first time that a strong delegation of eminent educationists has come from South Korea to negotiate with Sri Lanka in the field of higher education matters," the minister said.

Professor Warnapala, informed the South Korean delegation that the Higher Education Minister is willing to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Higher Education in South Korea to strengthen relations between the universities and higher education institutes in both countries. Prof. Ko Yeong Jin appreciating the suggestions made by the Minster said he would take a personal interest in awarding more scholarships to Sri Lankan students in the field of Information Technology, Medicine, Civil and Mechanical Engineering and Science.

He assured the Minister that steps will be taken by the International University of Korea to set up a suitable IT Centre in Sri Lanka.

The Minister informed the Korean delegation that opportunities are now available in Sri Lanka for potential Korean investors to utilise the Indo-Lanka FTA, Sri Lanka-Pakistan FTA and preferential duties through the Generalized System of Preferences and Sustainable Impact Assessment to the European Union.