Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, Dr Sarath Amunugama, lauded Maulana Azad’s leading role in laying the foundation of India´s school and higher education system, including the renowned institutions of national importance such as the Indian Institutes of Technology. Minister Amunugama appreciated India´s valuable scholarship assistance for Sri Lankan nationals and acknowledged that these educational and technical scholarships helped bridge the gap between demand and supply for such programmes in Sri Lanka, as well as in meeting the increasing aspirations of the people.
In his address, High Commissioner Mr. Y. K. Sinha, thanked the Minister for gracing the function as the Chief Guest and appreciated the large turnout of participants who had come from all over Sri Lanka. He noted that India-Sri Lanka cooperation in the field of education had a long history. At present, India offered more than 270 scholarships to Sri Lanka students to study in India and 500 scholarships under the CEWET and the Mahatma Gandhi scheme for students studying in Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner conveyed that ITEC, initiated in 1964 as India’s bilateral programme of assistance, was being constantly re-designed and refocused, based on the evolving needs of India’s partners, including Sri Lanka. He added that Sri Lanka was the one of topmost partner countries of ITEC, with 208 Sri Lankans, including senior Sri Lankan state sector officials, going to India annually for training in over 100 courses. High Commissioner also highlighted that this year’s function was commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the ITEC Programme.
Several Sri Lankan alumni shared their experiences of studying and participating in training programmes in prestigious institutions in India, recollecting their warm memories, appreciating their useful experience and conveying the manner in which the exposure had helped them in their professional roles and duties in their country. As part of the event, a short film titled “ITEC@ 50 Golden Years, Lessons in Friendship” was also screened.
The ITEC programme was launched more than 50 years ago, in the early 1960s, as India’s bilateral programme of assistance in the field of human resource development. Sri Lanka is one of the most important partner countries for the ITEC and the Colombo Plan scholarship programmes. 208 training slots are allocated annually for capacity-building and training in diverse areas like IT, English language, management, rural development, finance, mass communication, remote sensing, etc. The entire cost of travel, training and stay is borne by the Government of India, along with payment of a living allowance of INR 25,000/- per month, book allowance @ INR 5,000/-, study tours, including visit to places of historical importance, and medical facilities.
International Students’ Day is observed every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of Independent India and Founder President of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). Nearly 270 scholarships and self-financing slots are offered each year to Sri Lankan students for higher studies in India. Thips are offered every year to pursue courses in Dancing, Music and Painting by the ICCR.
More details on the scholarship programmes and other educational assistance could be obtained via the High Commission of India’s website http://www.hcicolombo.org and more information on the ITEC bia visithttp://itec.nic.in
