More foreign universities here soon - Dr. Navaratne

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Sri Lanka has been identified as an emerging and most cost effective educational hub in Asia at an international seminar on “Going Global 2011” held in Hongkong.

The representatives of United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hongkong, Malaysia, India and Russia who participated in this international event have shown their keen interest to come to Sri Lanka to establish their universities, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Dr. Nawaratne who represented Sri Lanka at this seminar organised by the British Council has made his presentation “Sri Lanka as the most cost effective education centre in Asia”.

Higher Education Ministers, Vice Chancellors, academics, researchers and the professionals from a large number of countries and those who have engaged in the field of university rankings have attended this seminar. They are impressed on Sri Lanka as an emerging education hub.

Dr. Nawaratne said the Ministry intends to get more Sri Lankan students and foreign students from SAARC countries, Middle Eastern countries, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, USA and Africa to study in these foreign universities to be established in Sri Lanka. A lot of foreign students have already shown their interest in coming to Sri Lanka to do their higher studies.

He said Sri Lanka has already gained a reputation in many countries as an emerging and cost effective education hub. In order to promote the higher education sector in Sri Lanka,the Ministry has introduced the tag line “most cost effective education hub in paradise”. While promoting education, the Ministry also intends to provide the opportunity to foreign students to view the natural beauty of the country. This would facilitate to promote the country’s tourism as well.

Meanwhile the Ministry has made a request to conduct “Going Global 2013” in Sri Lanka.

The Ministry has already received a positive response in this regard. The Ministry intends to conduct this event in collaboration with Economic Development Ministry, Tourist Board, BOI, SriLankan Airlines and several other stakeholders, Dr. Nawaratne said.