India and Sri Lanka commit to more cooperation in education and skills training at ITEC Day Celebration by High Commission of India

To mark 58 years of capacity-building partnership between India and Sri Lanka through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), the High Commission of India in Colombo celebrated ITEC Day 2022 on 28 September.

Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha and the Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nihal Ranasingha graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour respectively. 

The event was attended by over 100 participants, which included ITEC alumni from Sri Lanka, officials and professionals from diverse sectors who have participated in various training courses in India under ITEC programmes. 

In his address, the Minister of Education lauded the historically close relations between India and Sri Lanka for more than 2000 years. He appreciated India for the ITEC slots and the annual scholarships offered to Sri Lankan nationals and thanked India for the financial support extended to Sri Lanka in recent months.  

The Minister highlighted the scope for further cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in the field of higher education, skill development and capacity building, especially in India’s STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and IT sectors. 

He also referred to the comprehensive National Education Policy of India and its benefits for students and educators.  Speaking on the occasion, the High Commissioner noted the enormous interest shown by Sri Lankan officials for the ITEC programme over the years. He emphasised the importance of ITEC cooperation and remarked that the “sky is the limit” for the India-Sri Lanka partnership in education and skills training. 

The High Commissioner highlighted India’s endeavour to help Sri Lanka in the education sector, including in higher education through a partnership between higher education institutes in India and Sri Lanka, besides the current 402 ITEC slots and around 700 scholarships offered every year.

The participants reminisced and shared their experiences of ITEC training in India and appreciated the holistic content of the different ITEC programmes.

Sri Lanka’s Industrial Technology Institute R&D Additional Director General Prof. Ilmi Ganga Hewajulige, who had undergone the ITEC training programme on ‘Science, Technology and Innovation Policy’ at the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISC), Bengaluru described the programme as “a package of knowledge and experience”. 

She added that the information gathered on policy drafting and I-STEM were highly informative and the learnings had already been put to use in Sri Lanka as Sri Lanka’s National Science Foundation (NSF) has started a similar concept on I-STEM to collaborate with the Indian system. 

Sunshine Holdings Cyber Security & Compliance Manager Rishad Akram Rafi, who attended the Young Leaders Neighborhood Fellowship Programme at St. Stephen’s college, New Delhi highlighted the lectures and experience received in India in diverse fields ranging from Economics, constitutions, Policy Planning, Political science, Healthcare & Law. 

Zonal Education Office at Chilaw Deputy Director of Education Sasija Gayeshini Silva, who attended the ITEC course on “Design Thinking Approach for Innovative Organisations” conducted by Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida said that the ITEC training motivated her to work for her motherland with renewed energy.

University of Colombo Career Counselor Chathurdi Udari Withange, who attended the ITEC training program conducted by Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA), Bengaluru termed the training a “life changing” experience and mentioned that she will use the training to help others to find their inner peace and happiness through Yoga. 

The participants also remarked that the training modules were synchronised with modern technologies and were socially relevant.