Award of Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship:

Sri Lanka, India ties centuries - old - Bandula

Educational, cultural and religious ties between India and Sri Lanka were initiated several centuries ago when Arahath Mahinda Thera came to the country from India, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

The minister said under his guidance, Buddhist centres of learning were established, which led to the flourishing of Buddhism in the country. He said since that time, the relationship has moved from strength to strength. Minister Gunawardena said India has provided assistance in several areas in recent times, including the proposed language laboratories in all nine provinces, setting up an India - Sri Lanka Centre for English Language Training at Peradeniya and the training of teachers at the English and Foreign Languages University in Hyderabad.

The minister was speaking at a ceremony to present 150 students the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship at the Education Ministry yesterday.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok K Kantha, Education Ministry senior officials, Principals and parents of selected students were also present.

Education Ministry Secretary S M Gotabaya Jayarathna praised the assistance provided under the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship Scheme to 150 students from Sri Lanka, six each from 25 districts.

Jayarathna said the scholarship, initiated in 2006 with an annual intake of 100 students, has assisted several needy students to continue their studies and complete the GCE Advanced Level.

He thanked the Indian government for increasing the scholarship amount to Rs 2,000 per month and also the number of students by 50 percent to 150 from the current year. High Commissioner Kantha thanked Education Ministry officials for working tirelessly in selecting the students in consultation with the Indian High Commission.

He said the scholarship has been aptly named after Mahatma Gandhi, India's Father of the Nation.

Kantha said the Mahatma Gandhi scholarship was not a mere financial award provided to 'O' level students and to assist them in completing the GCE Advanced Level.

"It is recognition for a lifetime. These awardees would henceforth be recognised as winners of the Mahatma Gandhi scholarship. It thus placed tremendous responsibility on the students in not just performing well academically, but also to spread the noble ideals of the great leader, which includes peace, tolerance and respect for all," he said.

The High Commissioner informed the scholarship winners to take advantage of several scholarship schemes offered by India to pursue higher studies in some of India's best institutes of learning. He said preferential treatment would be given to Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship awardees for Indian scholarships. Kantha said starting this year, the number of scholarships had been virtually tripled to over 270 slots, amounting to a grant assistance of Rs 2.5 billion provided by India over the next three years.

The fully-funded scholarships enable a student to pursue studies at undergraduate, masters and research scholar levels.

A diverse range of disciplines are covered under the scholarships including engineering, science, business, economics, arts, dance and music, the High Commissioner said.