Lanka to get Rs. 383 Mn Japanese grant aid for HRD Scholarship Programme

The government has received the cabinet approval to sign an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to obtain a grant of Japanese Yen 265 million (Rs. 383 million) , in order to implement another phase of the Human Resources Development scholarship Programme.

The Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship Programme was introduced in Sri Lanka in 2010 by the Government of Japan in order to provide opportunities to the executive level public officials of Sri Lanka to undergo Master Degree Programs in prominent universities in Japan.

By now, 135 officers have been given the opportunity to follow studies under two frameworks in this program. The first Framework was implemented during the year 2010 – 2013 and the second Framework during the year 2014 – 2017.

In response to a request made by the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of Japan has expressed its willingness to continue this program for the next 4 years, uninterruptedly.

Under this program, it has been proposed to provide 15 scholarships for Post Graduate Degree courses each year and two scholarships for the doctoral degree for the next 4 years.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to sign an Agreement with JICA to obtain the Japanese Yen 265 million grant aid was approved by the cabinet.

The Government of Sri Lanka expects that the public officers who will be benefited under this program will contribute to the social and economic development of the country in a productive manner with self-confidence. It is also expected to contribute to strengthen the bilateral relationship between two countries .