The Japanese government which introduced the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) programme in Sri Lanka for public sector officials in 2010 extended the scholarship programme, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. The JDS programme provides opportunities to the executive level public sector officials to undergo Masters Degree and PhD programmes in prominent universities in Japan.
Accordingly, the First Framework (2010-2013) and the Second Framework (2014-2017) of this programme were successfully completed in 2013 and 2017 respectively, the Ministry of Finance noted.
The Third Framework (2018–2021) was started in 2018 to continue this programme for further period of four years. After considering the necessity of further career development of JDS fellows, the Japanese government has agreed to offer scholarships for PhD programmes for two candidates per batch. Accordingly, 150 (15 per year) opportunities for Master Degree programmes and 04 opportunities for PhD programmes have been provided under this scholarship programme.
The selection process of the second batch of the Third Framework has already been completed and the selected officials are scheduled to commence their studies in September 2019. In order to facilitate these officials, the Government of Japan has agreed to offer a grant assistance of Japanese Yen 263 million (approximately Rs. 420 million) to Sri Lanka in 2019.
The Government of Sri Lanka expects that the public officers who will be benefited under this programme will contribute to the social and economic development of the country in a productive manner with self – confidence and also contribute to strengthen the existing bilateral relationship between two countries, the Ministry of Finance said.
Two Exchange of Notes between the two Governments and Grant Agreements between Sri Lanka and the JICA for the implementation of the Human Resources Development Scholarship Programme were signed on Wednesday at the Ministry of Finance.
Agreements were signed between Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama, Chief Representative of JICA Fusato Tanaka and Treasury Secretary Dr. R H S Samaratunga.
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