SAARC Diary: Gandhi Scholarships awarded to 150 students in Sri Lanka
Bengaluru: The coveted Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships have been awarded to 150 advanced level school students from all 25 districts of Sri Lanka.
These scholarships were presented by Gopal Baglay, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, and G L Peiris, Minister of Education of the island nation, at a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Education recently.
Addressing the gathering, Peiris admired the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, who practiced what he preached and how he resisted and fought against a powerful British Raj by using non-violence as a weapon.
Sharing his experience of a recent visit to the Northern Province, where he saw how diverse cultures living together peacefully, he urged the students to pursue this awareness as they grow up.
Peiris also thanked India for supporting Sri Lanka in various fields.
Congratulating students for their achievements, Baglay assured Sri Lanka, in general, and young students, in particular, that the Indian citizens, the Government of India, and the High Commission of India, will always stand by them.
Drawing a comparison between the Mahatma and The Buddha, he said that the values of Gandhi were still applicable in a fast-changing world.
Remembering that India and Sri Lanka have traditionally shared close cultural links, Baglay exhorted the young students to take advantage of the opportunities available in India in terms of education and employment.
Apart from the Mahatma Gandhi scholarships, the Indian High Commission is providing about 750 scholarships annually to Sri Lankan students in fields such as engineering, electronics, humanities, research, para-medical courses, indigenous medicines, etc. Thousands of seats, including an opportunity in higher learning, are also provided to them at many of India’s prestigious institutions and universities.
For bachelors and master’s degree in engineering and master’s in business administration (MBA), Sri Lankan students are offered a 50 percent discount on the course fee in prestigious institutes like the National Institute of Technology (NIT) and International Institute of Information and Technology (IIIT).
(Venkatesh Iyer)
