Japan extends Rs. 245 m for public sector human resources development scholarships

Tuesday, 3 June 2014 02:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant assistance of 215 million yen (approximately Rs. 245 million) to Sri Lanka for the 1st year (2014) of the second framework of Human Resources Development Scholarship Program which will span until 2017. The Government expects that State sector officials 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 can highly be contributed to strengthen the bilateral relationship between two countries.

The Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship Program (JDS) was introduce in Sri Lanka 2010 by the Government Japan in order to bump up the capacity of the executive level public sector officials of Sri Lanka by way of providing opportunities for them to undergo masters degree programs in prominent universities in Japan. Under the 1st framework for the period 2010-2013 of this program, opportunities have been provided to 60 officials to follows masters degree program in three leading universities in Japan in the fields of policy and public finance, public administration, regional development, and macro and development economics. Among them 30 officials of the first and second batches have already completed their masters degree programs successfully and rest of them are currently reading their studies in Japan. An Exchange of Notes between two Governments and a Grant Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the JICA for the implementation of the Human Resources Development Scholarship Program were signed yesterday at the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The relevant documents were signed by Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo on behalf of the Government of Japan and JICA Senior Representative Hiroyuki Abe.