Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the Government has sought China’s assistance to fulfil the uniform requirement of the schoolchildren next year.
The Minister said that 70 percent of uniform material required for the schoolchildren in the country for 2023 was donated by China and the government is seeking Chinese assistance to fulfill the total school uniform fabric requirement next year which will cost Rs 12.5 billion.
“We have already made a request through the proper channel and are waiting for a favourable response”, he said.
The Minister was speaking at the presentation of full Chinese Government scholarships to Sri Lankan students at the Chinese Embassy on Thursday. Thirty four masters, and Phd students received full Chinese Government scholarships to pursue their education in China. They have been admitted to 30 top Chinese universities with majors of science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, economics and philosophy.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Prmajayantha said that Rs 12.5 billion is needed to provide school uniforms to the schools around the country and said that the relations between China and Sri Lanka go back to centuries and Sri Lanka is one of the first countries that recognized the People’s Republic of China.
The Minister recollected how he led a delegation of Medical doctors to China in 2017 which resulted in offering four Phd scholarships to Sri Lankans at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
He added that Sri Lankan doctors also received an opportunity to visit leading hospitals in Beijing to study the Chronic Kidney Diseases which were fast spreading in the North Central Province.
“As a result of this visit the Chinese Government donated a fully furnished hospital dedicated to Chronic Kidney Diseases when former President Maithripala Sirisena was in power”, he added.
The Minister said that China is an amazing country which has provided thousands of scholarship opportunities to Sri Lankan students since 1957 to help them prosper in their chosen fields.
He added that former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike laid a formidable foundation for a strong relationship with China which led to the donation of BMICH in early 1970s.
“Sri Lanka managed to host the first International Conference in the country with more than 90 Heads of States in attendance in 1976 at the BMICH”, he said.
Minister Premajayatha added that Confucius Centre was established at the Lumbini Vidyalaya for the students and more such centres will be established with the assistance of the Chinese Government at higher education institutes in future.
The Minister stressed that the Education Ministry has ensured that right candidates are selected for these scholarship programmes through a transparent process.
Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said that these students will help contribute towards Sri Lanka’s modernization effort after completing their studies in China.
China provides a unique opportunity for Sri Lankan youth to pursue their studies in Chinese universities.
“China has magnificent and marvelous culture and traditions and the people of China are very hospitable”, he said. Zhenhong said that a group of Chinese students will also arrive in Sri Lanka to further their studies.
Chaminda Perera