SB seeks Indian help to develop Universities

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake sought Indian assistance to set up an Engineering Faculty and augment the Agriculture Faculty at the Jaffna University.

Minister Dissanayake on an official visit to India met Indian Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on September 28 and also explored the possibility of getting prominent Indian Professors and Senior Lecturers to undertake teaching assignments at Sri Lankan Universities during their sabbatical leave.

The two Ministers also discussed the possibility of training opportunities for Sri Lankan University lecturers in India.

High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam was also associated at the meeting. The two Ministers discussed bilateral cooperation in the education sector. Minister Dissanayake explained to Minister Sibal of the steps being taken by the Sri Lankan Government to modernize higher education system. He said that beginning 2012, the Sri Lankan Government will offer 200 scholarships to students from Asia to study in Universities in Sri Lanka and about 40 percent of these scholarships would be granted to Indian students in promoting student exchange.

The Minister also stressed the need to revive the education facilities in the North and the East.

Minister Dissanayake invited Minister Sibal to visit Sri Lanka.