Laugfs Higher Education services launched

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Laugfs Group of Companies further diversifying its business activities ventured into the education sector with its education arm Laugfs Australia Higher Education Services (Private) Limited (LAHES) offering opportunities for both local and foreign students.

W.K.H. Wegapitiya

"We diversified into the education sector and will be further expanding business activities with more investments as the current investment for the initial phase is Rs 80 million.

This is a lucrative area of business where we see a lot of potential beyond limited mainstream professional qualifications," Laugfs Holdings Limited Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya said.

The understanding of the national need for more educational opportunities and the conducive environment that could attract foreign students where there are emerging economic prospects were the main focus of venturing into education sector, he said.

LAHES entered into a joint venture with Centre for Customs and Excise Studies University of Canberra Regional Campus offering courses in border management, tax and excise administration. Plans are underway to convert LAHES into a fully fledged university in the near future and to become a world class educational institution. "We are looking at the region and there is a positive response from Maldives and Nepal with focus on a few more countries. Measures are being taken to develop talent in different areas of scope, LAHES Director and Chief Executive Officer Vindhya Weeratunga said.

The LAHES will offer a niche market driven product filling the gap in selected areas and there will also be vocational courses. The set up of LAHES will contribute to Sri Lanka becoming a knowledge hub, she said.

"We want to reverse the trend where 8,000 to 10,000 students annually pursue higher education in foreign countries. This will help retain local talent to a greater extent and we also welcome more foreign students," she said.

The education at LAHES will be a blend of video conferencing and face-to-face learning where all the lecturers are from Australia.