The prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships were awarded to 150 Advanced Level school students from all 25 districts across Sri Lanka, the Indian High Commission said.
The scholarships were awarded by Education Minister G L Peiris and Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay at a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Education, on Thursday (11).
Minister G.L. Pieris in his speech lauded the values of Mahatma Gandhi who lived what he preached and how he fought against the powerful British in the last century using non-violence as a weapon.
Sharing his experience of a recent visit to Jaffna and Kilinochchi in the Northern Province where he had seen how the different communities live together without differences, he advised the students to follow this principle when they grow up. He thanked the Government of India for the help it extends in different fields to Sri Lanka.
Congratulating students for their achievement, the High Commissioner assured Sri Lankans in general and young students, in particular, that the Indian people, the Indian Government and the High Commission of India would always stand with them.
Drawing parallels between the great Buddha and Mahatma, he stated that the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi still hold good in the fast changing world.
Reminding that India and Sri Lanka have close cultural links, he advised the young students to utilise the opportunities available in India, which is a large country in terms of Education as well as career.
He expressed confidence that the young students of Sri Lanka would be a great source of strength for both India and Sri Lanka in future.
Apart from Mahatma Gandhi scholarships, the High Commission of India offers around 750 scholarships annually in various fields including Engineering, Technology, Arts, Science, Para-medical courses, Indigenous medicine etc. to Sri Lankan students.
Thousands of seats are also on offer for Sri Lankan students in many highly regarded institutions of India under “Study in India”.
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