Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships awarded to 300 Sri Lankan students

Three hundred school students from all 25 districts across Sri Lanka have received the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Scholarshisp. High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Education, Dr. Susil Premajayantha, and State Minister of Education A. Aravindh Kumar presented the scholarships to the students on Thursday, May 18, 2023.. The scholarship provides 2500 Lankan rupees per student every month to the top six students from each district, based on merit cum means. This year, two batches of scholarships were awarded simultaneously to compensate for the disruptions caused by COVID-19 during the 2021-2022 period. During the ceremony, the High Commissioner emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in the education sector for the bright future of youth in both Sri Lanka and India. He drew parallels between the philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi and Buddha, stating that Gandhi's ideals remain relevant even in the rapidly changing world. The High Commissioner encouraged students to take advantage of educational opportunities in India, which is experiencing significant advancements in the field. Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha expressed gratitude to the Government of India for not only providing the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships but also other scholarships and opportunities in prestigious institutions like the IITs. He highlighted the positive impact of these initiatives on Sri Lanka's human resource development and acknowledged Mahatma Gandhi's contributions to education. In addition to the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships, the Government of India offers approximately 210 scholarships to Sri Lankan students annually in fields such as engineering, technology, arts, science, and indigenous medicine. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation scheme also provides over 400 fully paid scholarship slots for Sri Lankan government officials to enhance their domain k