On 30 October 2025, High Commissioner of India H.E Santosh Jha launched an enhanced financial assistance scheme under Indian grant for meritorious students of Eastern University hailing from economically weaker sections of society.
Earlier, a financial assistance scheme under Indian grant had been implemented at the university in the previous academic year, where a scholarship of SLR 5000 per month was granted to 100 students selected on the basis of economic background and academic performance.
Feedback on the utility of the scheme was highly positive, and several requests from university authorities, students and their families were received for extension and enhancement of the scheme. During the State visit of President of Sri Lanka H.E Anura Kumara Disanayake to India in December 2024, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi announced that India will implement an enhanced scheme for students of Eastern University and University of Jaffna.
Under the enhanced scheme, starting from the current academic year, each year, financial assistance of LKR 7500 per student per month shall be provided to 100 UG-level students in the first year, and will be continued until the end of their respective academic courses. Thus, in the fourth year of the scheme implementation, scholarships will be disbursed to 400 students at the university.
Speaking at the event on 30 October for the launch of the enhanced scheme, High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha underscored that the scheme was part of the broader development assistance initiatives of India to support socio-economic development of the Eastern Province. In their remarks, Prof. P. Peratheepan, Vice Chancellor of Eastern University, and student-representatives expressed deep gratitude towards the Government of India for the financial assistance, highlighting that the scheme was proving of significant help in alleviating financial stress on the students, improving their attendance in classes and raising their academic performance.
