In a significant boost to India–Sri Lanka educational cooperation, 300 Advanced Level students from all 25 districts of Sri Lanka were awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships at a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Education in Colombo. The scholarships were presented by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in the presence of Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Madhura Senevirathna and Acting Indian High Commissioner Dr. Satyanjal Pandey.
According to the Indian High Commission, the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship provides a monthly stipend of LKR 2,500 to meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds. The programme follows a merit-cum-means selection process, targeting the top six students from each district to ensure equitable representation across the country.
This year’s award ceremony was particularly notable as scholarships for two batches were distributed simultaneously, covering the academic period from 2021 to 2024. The initiative aims to support students during their crucial Advanced Level studies and encourage academic excellence nationwide.
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Expressing gratitude to the Government of India, Prime Minister Amarasuriya thanked India for the scholarship programme and its broader development initiatives in Sri Lanka. She also recalled the ideals and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, urging students to draw inspiration from his life and values as they pursue their educational and personal goals.
Congratulating the recipients, Acting High Commissioner Dr. Satyanjal Pandey emphasised that the scholarship represents lifelong recognition rather than just financial assistance. He encouraged the awardees to excel academically while embodying and promoting Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of service, integrity and compassion.
Beyond the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships, India offers around 210 annual scholarships to Sri Lankan students in diverse fields including engineering, science, arts, and indigenous medicine. Additionally, over 400 fully-funded training slots are available annually under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme for Sri Lankan government officials.
Further strengthening capacity-building ties, India has committed to training 1,500 Sri Lankan civil servants over five years under an MoU signed in December 2024. In April 2025, India also announced 700 additional customised training slots annually for Sri Lankan professionals, collectively benefiting nearly 1,000 Sri Lankan nationals each year.
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