Sri Lanka Invites Recognized Universities to Set up Branches

20th October 201, www.dailynews.lk, By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka is spending Rs 15 billion to Rs 20 billion annually on foreign education, Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake said.

“The country could save this amount of foreign exchange with the establishment of foreign university branches in Sri Lanka. This will enable the students to secure internationally accepted qualifications locally,” Dissanayake said.

The education system in Sri Lanka will be classified into three categories under State, Non-State and Professional. Strategies will be introduced to restructure the process to attract more foreign universities to the country,” the Minister said.

“The country invites world-recognized universities to establish branches and discussions are successful in this regard. Sri Lanka will become a quality higher education centre and the Government will provide more facilities and a conducive environment,” he said.

The Sri Lanka-Australia-New Zealand Business Council organized a presentation on Government policy on higher education and education for the future which was held yesterday.

Sri Lanka hopes to maintain the free education system regardless of the policies introduced. Sri Lanka is poised to become a knowledge hub in Asia and the Government is working towards this goal.

“There is a need to regularize and streamline higher educational institutions. Six universities will be made world class universities meeting the expected standards. We are already in line to make Sri Lanka an education centre. The country will be in a position to export knowledge. The learning centred education will be converted to research oriented education,” the Minister said.

The Government is carrying out an ambitious education reform agenda. Australia will support Government efforts to provide education. It has allocated $ 50 million for development including education, Australia’s High Commissioner in Colombo Kathy Klugman said.