The prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships were awarded to 300 Advanced Level students representing all 25 districts of Sri Lanka at a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Education today (09). The scholarships were presented by Prime Minister Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya, together with Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna, and Acting High Commissioner of India Dr. Satyanjal Pandey.
Under the scholarship programme, selected Advanced Level students receive a monthly stipend of LKR 2,500 on a merit-cum-means basis. The scheme targets the top six students from each district. This year’s event was significant as scholarships were awarded to two batches simultaneously, covering the period from 2021 to 2024.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya expressed her appreciation to the Government of India for the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships and its continued support through various educational initiatives in Sri Lanka. Congratulating the recipients, she also reflected on the life, ideals, and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, urging students to draw inspiration from his legacy.
Acting High Commissioner Dr. Satyanjal Pandey congratulated the awardees and emphasized that the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship represents more than financial assistance. He described it as a lifelong recognition, encouraging students not only to excel academically but also to embody and promote the values and ideals associated with Mahatma Gandhi throughout their lives.
Beyond the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships, the Government of India offers approximately 210 scholarships annually to Sri Lankan students in fields including Engineering, Technology, Arts, Science, and Indigenous Medicine. In addition, over 400 fully funded training slots are available each year for Sri Lankan government officials under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.
Further strengthening capacity-building efforts, an MoU was signed during the state visit of President H.E. Anura Kumara Dissanayake in December 2024 to train 1,500 Sri Lankan civil servants in India over five years. Subsequently, during the Prime Minister’s state visit in April 2025, India announced an additional 700 customized training slots annually for Sri Lankan professionals. Collectively, these initiatives support the professional development of around 1,000 Sri Lankan nationals each year, in addition to existing training programmes.
