Australian aid for education in Sri Lanka

By Lalin Fernandopulle

The Australian Government will provide A$ 34 m for education in Sri Lanka, the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Robyn Mudie said at the launch of Adyapana 2013 a higher education and career exhibition which from October 4-6 at the BMICH.

High Commissioner  Robyn Mudie

She said that Australia will provide its aid for four years to support education in Sri Lanka which is vital to fast track economic development.

Adyapana which attracts a large number of local and foreign visitors, will help Sri Lankan students to enhance their educational and career opportunities," she said.

Adyapana 2013 is organised annually by Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd. (LECS).

"Quality education offered by international education providers fits in well for Sri Lanka to achieve its educational hub concept. Australia is a leading provider of educational opportunities and a key destination for Sri Lankan students," Mudie said.

Adyapana has been taken out of Colombo to provide educational and career guidance opportunities to students in other regions, a LECS official said.

The exhibition will be held in Batticaloa from October 11-13 and in early 2014 in Jaffna. LECS, General Manager Aasim Mukthar said that there would be around 250 stalls at this year's exhibition consisting of between 80-100 local and foreign institutions.

He said that there has been a marked increase in the number of institutions and students participating in the exhibition and added that foreign educational institutions have been directly participating in the educational fair.

Over 10,000 students visit the show of which around 10 percent enrol themselves to pursue higher education in these institutions.

Exhibitions of this nature are vital to provide higher educational opportunities to students who have been deprived of it it due to the limited facilities and intake of students to local universities.

Around 150,000 students sit the GCE Advanced Level examination of which only around 40,000 get an opportunity to enter universities. Themed as 'The Passport to you Future' Adyapana brings a large number of local and international universities, educational institutions, business schools and colleges under one roof to showcase educational opportunities. The educational fair will comprise sessions on career decision for students conducted by top professionals.

Adyapana, a miniature educational exhibition launched in 2006 with around 40 stalls has scaled the heights of success today having established itself as one of the most focused educational and career exhibitions providing a gateway to higher education.

Adyapana attracts a large number of parents and students from across the country and presents a myriad of educational opportunities for undergraduate and post-graduate studies, vocational training, skills development and career guidance.

The educational exhibition being held at the end of the GCE Advanced Level examination provides higher educational opportunities for students. Education providers will get an opportunity to exhibit their services in the Maldives through the 'Youth Vision Maldives 2013' exhibition.