High Commission of India

Colombo

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PRESS RELEASE

Joint Celebration of the ‘Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation Day (ITEC Day) and the ‘International Students Day’ on March 30, 2015

The annual get-together of the ITEC alumni and Sri Lankan students who studied in India under various scholarship schemes of the Government of India was held on Monday, March 30, 2015, at Hotel Taj Samudra. Hon’ble Dr Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Higher Education and Research, Government of Sri Lanka, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. About 300 alumni of Indian educational and training institutions, coming from various parts of Sri Lanka, attended the reception.

2. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, Hon’ble 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.

3. In his address, High Commissioner Mr. Y. K. Sinha, thanked the Hon’ble 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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. The main categories under which the scholarships are offered are:

i. Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme:120 ICCR scholarships are offered annually under this programme for higher studies in India. Students can pursue undergraduate courses in all disciplines including Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, Commerce, Humanities and Arts.

ii. Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme:This scheme has been initiated from 2012-13, to provide 25 ICCR scholarships every year for ‘Bachelor of Engineering’ courses in IT, in some of the top-ranked institutes in India.

iii. Maulana Azad Scholarship Scheme:This Scheme has been added from the academic year 2012-13 wherein 50 ICCR scholarships are provided annually for Masters Degrees. This programme is expected to assist researchers including scholars employed in Sri Lankan Universities to pursue Masters degree in some world class Universities in India. Preference is given to Agriculture, Science and Engineering.

iv. AYUSH scholarships:About 10 scholarships are offered every year for study in the field of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, leading to undergraduate, masters and research degrees.

v. Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme (ICCR): Under this scheme, 5 scholarships for pursuing Phd in various disciplines are offered.

vi. ICCR Undergraduate Scholarship for Music, Dancing, and Painting:Up to 10 undergraduate scholarships are offered every year to pursue courses in Dancing, Music and Painting by the ICCR.

vii. Subsidized Self Financed Slots (Engineering, Medicine etc.):The Government of India has reserved up to 40 seats, of which 4 to 5 slots are for Medicine, for Sri Lankan students in some of the most reputed Government institutions. Courses offered under this scheme are Undergraduate courses in Medicine (MBBS), Pharmacy (B. Pharm.) and Engineering (B.E/ B.Tech). Fee for Medicine and Pharmacy courses is subsidized and is usually less than US$ 1,000 per year.

viii. Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship:The Government of India offers 150 scholarships to meritorious Sri Lankan students, six from each of the 25 districts. Students are chosen, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, on the basis of their performance in the GCE ‘O’ Level examination and on merit-cum-means criteria. Selected scholars receive financial assistance of Sri Lankan Rupees 48,000/- over a period of two years to complete their Advance Level studies.

ix. Scholarship for Children of Estate Workers:350 scholarships are offered annually to children of estate workers to pursue their ‘A’ level and Undergraduate studies. Applications are invited every year from the students in the Month of April and May. Selected students are provided a monthly stipend for a period ranging from 2-3years, till they complete their studies.

7. For more details on the scholarship programmes and other educational assistance, please visit the High Commission of India’s website http://www.hcicolombo.organd for more information on the ITEC please visithttp://itec.nic.in

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March 31, 2015, Colombo