More than 300 applications had been received
from foreign students, to enter Sri Lankan universities, in the next academic
year, the Higher Education Ministry said yesterday.
Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha
Navaratne said that Sri Lanka had offered scholarships to around 50 foreign
students.
"We will accommodate a small percentage
of foreign students in Lankan universities, done under the scholarship scheme
and the others who will be paying students," he said.
Dr. Navaratne said they introduced the full
scholarship programme to enhance links with other countries in the world.
Most Sri Lankans went overseas on full
scholarships, but they return after completing their studies without
contributing anything to those countries, he said adding that the country could
now pay back in some way by offering scholarships to foreign students.
The Secretary said that most of the foreign
students were seeking entry to the Moratuwa, Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura,
Kelaniya, Rajarata and Sabaragamuwa universities.
Dr. Navaratne said currently there were 435
fee paying foreign students following undergraduate and post graduate courses
in Sri Lankan universities.
Most of them study Buddhism in the Buddhist
and Pali University; he said adding that the rest were engaged in bio –
diversity studies, archeology, irrigation, and conflict resolution and peace
studies.
"Most postgraduate students conduct
research in Sri Lanka and they are published in international journals,"
Dr. Navaratne said adding it was a recognition for the country.
Extract From Online Island
