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150 Sri Lankan Students Awarded with the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship
Since 2006, India has been awarding the students of Sri Lanka with the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship and this year the awardees will receive Rs. 30,000 anually.
The Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship, a merit-cum-means based Scholarship launched in 2006-07 for Sri Lankan students, is awarded annually by the High Commission of India in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka.
This year India has awarded the prestigious Scholarship to 150 Sri Lankan high school students from all 25 districts (six from each district); the students were selected in January 2016 by a joint selection committee consisting officials from the High Commission of India and the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, based on performance of the student in and interview and in the 'O' level examinations.
Sri Lankan Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and High Commissioner of India Y. K. Sinha awarded the scholarships to the meritorious students on June 20 at a special ceremony held at the Auditorium of Ministry of Education in Battaramulla.
The recipients receive cash assistance during their two years of 'A' level studies. And the good news is that the High Commission of India has increased the scholarship amount from Rs. 2,000 to 2,500 per month from 2015-16 onwards and accordingly, during their two years 'A' level studies the awardees will receive Rs. 30,000 annually.
While addressing, the High Commissioner highlighted the various scholarship schemes Government of India is offering to Sri Lankan students and the educational projects undertaken in Sri Lanka under the development cooperation programs, which included opening of English Language Labs, renovation of schools and establishment of Agriculture and Engineering Faculties at the Jaffna University, Kilinochchi campus.
In his speech, Minister of Education of Sri Lanka recalled the robust Indo-Sri Lanka historical relationships and appreciated the Mahatma Gandhi scholarship scheme, which has benefited 950 meritorious students so far, and other educational projects supported by Government of India for the betterment of educational facilities in Sri Lanka.
The students selected for the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship will also have the eligibility to apply for various undergraduate scholarships and self-financed schemes awarded by the Government of India. Under these schemes, students can pursue undergraduate courses in various reputed Indian institutes and universities.
The scholarship has groomed students to achieve heights and most of the students have gone on to excel in their chosen fields of study at the undergraduate and higher levels.
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