Austrian help for Lanka's education

P. Krishnaswamy

Austrian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dr.Ferdinand Maultaschi assured Higher Education Minister Prof. Wiswa Warnapala that he would initiate measures through his Government to extend financial assistance for the uplift of technological education in Sri Lanka, Ministry Coordinating Secretary U.E. Perera said.

Minister Warnapala who plans to upgrade the status of universities and enhance the syllabai and educational system of technical and vocational institutes to cope with regional trends, intends to seek assistance from EU countries, Perera said.

The Austrian Ambassador discussed ways and possibilities of channelling assistance through his Government and other sources.

In the context of the fact that heavy investments by the Indian and Malaysian Governments were primarily instrumental for the technological revolutions in those countries, Minister Warnapala has drawn up plans to achieve a similar level of technological advancement in Sri Lanka, Perera said. He added that the Minister would be meeting political leaders and representatives of the EU countries in the future.

The Austrian Government has extended 47 million Euro for five projects in Sri Lanka, including the Labduwa and Mattakkkuliya Advanced Technology Institution Project, Perera said.