In a landmark educational collaboration between India and Sri Lanka, 300 meritorious students from all 25 districts of the island nation have been awarded the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship. The ceremony, held at the Ministry of Education in Colombo, was graced by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Madura Senewiratne, and India’s Acting High Commissioner Satyanjal Pandey.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Indian High Commission, provides monthly stipends of 2,500 LKR under a merit-cum-means criterion. Each district selects its top six performers, ensuring widespread representation. This year’s event was particularly significant, combining scholarships for two batches spanning 2021 to 2024.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya expressed profound gratitude to the Government of India for sustaining this program and other developmental efforts. Congratulating the recipients, she invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s timeless principles, urging the young scholars to carry forward his legacy of peace, non-violence, and service to humanity.
Acting High Commissioner Pandey emphasized that the scholarship transcends financial aid. ‘It is a lifelong badge of honor,’ he stated, expecting the students not only to excel academically but also to propagate Gandhi’s ideals throughout their lives.
Beyond this program, India supports Sri Lanka with around 210 annual scholarships in fields like engineering, technology, arts, science, and traditional medicine. Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scheme, over 400 fully funded short-term training slots are offered to Sri Lankan officials annually.
Recent high-level engagements have further strengthened ties. During President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India in December 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to train 1,500 Sri Lankan civil servants over five years. In April 2025, Prime Minister’s visit led to an offer of 700 annual capacity-building programs for Sri Lankan professionals.
This enduring partnership underscores India’s commitment to nurturing Sri Lanka’s future leaders, fostering mutual growth and shared values rooted in Gandhian philosophy.