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Press Releases - August 2008

India to assist in Presidential initiative “English as a Life Skill”
19.08.2008

India is offering 41 scholarships to English teachers from government schools in Sri Lanka for a special three-month training course at EFLU under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. These scholarships are part of India’s assistance to President H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s initiative “English as a Life Skill”, which aims to spread the knowledge of modern English in Sri Lanka and accelerate the development of the skills capacity of its work force, especially youth, and enable them to avail economic opportunities opening up as a result of globalization. Upon returning to Sri Lanka, these teachers, who have been selected by the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka from all over the country, would work as master trainers for the upgradation of the English teacher base in the governmental education sector.

At a function held at the Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo at 9.30 a.m. today, these scholarships were handed over to the selected teachers by the Hon’ble Minister of Education of Sri Lanka, Mr. Susil Premjayantha, and His Excellency the High Commissioner of India.

List of 41 Teachers

Sl.No	Names	Province
	Mrs Fareena Iqbal	Uva Province
	Mr Weerappuli Thilak Wimalasooriya De Silva	Uva Province
	Mrs Arunthathie Rajah Sathyendra	Central Province
	Mr Arachchige Kingsly Nissanka	North Western Province
	Miss Rupika Udayangani Senevirathna	North Central Province
	Mrs Manuelpierislage Sunethra Kumudini Peiris	Western Province
	Mrs Athapaththu Madiyanselage Mithila Weerasinghe	North Western Province
	Mrs Dunuvilage Visakha Subhashinie Jayawickreme	Western Province
	Mrs WathukarageDeepikaDarshani Chandrakumari Abeykoon	Central Province
	Ms Kalyani Ganga Renuka Kokiladevi Udugamage	Western Province
	Mr Sivachelvan Nagalingam	Eastern Province
	Mrs Sasikala Eesan	Northern Province
	Mr Nevil Harrison De Silva Laththuwa Handi	Eastern Province
	Mrs Kanchana Indumali Jayawardana	North Central Province
	Mrs Majaziyyah Mubarak	Western Province
	Mrs Vajira Ediriweera Wijesuriya	Central Province
	Miss Hettiarachchige Priyanka Sandyani Kumarasinghe	North Western Province
	Mrs Dasili Liyanage Pushpa Chandanee Senanayake	Western Province
	Mrs Suthagini Sivakumaran	North Western Province
	Mrs Srimathie Iranganie Kulappu Archchi Liyanage	Southern Province
	Mrs Dasanthi Shamila Kumari Dharmasena	North Central Province
	Mr Thalpege Kalyana Chandana Ariyawansha	Uva Province
	Mrs Geeganage Jayani Champika Weeresuriya	Southern Province
	Mrs Kalyani Watagedara Arachchige Sripali Daya	Southern Province
	Mr Gunasinghe Ranasinghe	Sabaragamuwa Province
	Mrs Gayathri Andrahennadi	Southern Province
	Ms Anula Kumarihamy Ekanayake	Central Province
	Miss Samanthi Priyanka Gamachchige	Southern Province
	Miss Imtazia Farook	Central Province
	Mrs Sendapperuma Arachchilage Deepika Gunenayake	North Central Province
	Mr Dushmantha Dissanayake Mayadunnage	Western Province
	Mr KULARATHAN Chellaiah	Northern Province
	Mr Don Pemalal Subasinghe	Uva Province
	Mr GOBALAKRISHNAN Sivasubramaniam	Northern Province
	Mrs MANORANJI Thiruthany	Northern Province
	Mr ANZAR Kachchi Mohamed	Eastern Province
	Mr NAHURAN Abdul Rahuman	Eastern Province
	Miss DEEPA Priyanganie Ellepola	Sabaragamuwa Province
	Mr DHARMAWEERA Nambukara Wasan Appuwabaduge	Sabaragamuwa Province
	Mr Mahinda Sirimewan Gamage	Sabaragamuwa Province
	Miss JAYANTHA Padmini Ratnayake Mudivanselage	Sabaragamuwa Province

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Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships: 2008–10
14.08.2008

At a function organized by the High Commission of India Colombo, on 14th August, 2008, 100 Sri Lankan students were awarded Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships. These students were selected from all the 25 districts of Sri Lanka on the criterion of merit-cum-means on the basis of their performance in ‘O’ level examinations 2007 as well as interviews jointly conducted by High Commission of India Colombo and Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Sri Lanka. The selected scholars will receive a financial assistance @ Rs.1,500/- per month for a period of two years to enable them to successfully pursue their “A” Level courses.

Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship programme, which was instituted last year, will continue in future and every year 100 or more Sri Lankan students will be selected from all the districts of the country for award of scholarships in the name of Mahatma Gandhi. Depending upon their performance, some of these students can also be selected for ICCR scholarships for various undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Presently Government of India through High Commission of India Colombo awards 75 scholarships to Sri Lankan nationals for pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various reputed institutes and universities in India. Besides, the High Commission of India also awards five Commonwealth scholarships for research and higher studies and three Cultural Exchange programme scholarships again for research and higher studies. Government of India also offers two scholarships one fellowship through the SAARC Secretariat to Sri Lankan students and a SAARC chair on rotational basis to member countries of SAARC, which comes to Sri Lanka every Sixth year. Government of India also extends short term training facilities for Sri Lankan professionals working both in the Government as well as corporate sector under the ITEC and SCAAP programmes and Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo awards 10 scholarships to Sri Lankan students to pursue undergraduate studies in the fine arts.

Recipients of the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships
for the year 2008-10

Sl. No.	Name of student	District	Name of School
01	Ms.P.N.B.Jayaweera	Polonaruwa	Rajarata M.M.V
02	Ms.D.M.K.N.Senarath	Polonaruwa	Royal M.M.V
03	Ms.J.A.S.N.Peiris	Polonaruwa	Royal M.M.V
04	Mr.R.D.M.C.L.B.Kapilarathna	Polonaruwa	Royal M.M.V
05	Ms.N.P.Dilhani	Anuradhapura	Suwarnapali B.M.V
06	Ms.W.K.A.A.Wijeyanayake	Anuradhapura	Suwarnapali B.M.V
07	Mr.H.A.S.M.Hettiarachchi	Anuradhapura	Anuradhapura CC
08	Ms.K.H.J.I.Yasarathna	Anuradhapura	Suwarnapali B.M.V
09	Mr.H.G.N.Seniviratna	Matara	Rahula College
10	Mr.M.M.Hettiarachchi	Matara	Rahula College
11	Mr.S.H.D.M.Prabuddha	Matara	St.Thomas Boys College
12	Ms.K.K.T.Chathurangani	Matara	Thelijjavila M.M.V
13	Ms.I.W.A.S.U.Premaratne	Galle	Sangamitha Girls School
14	Mr.P.G.S.Lakshan	Galle	Mahinda College
15	Ms.D.C.Vilochani	Galle	Southland Girls School
16	Ms.N.E.Premaratna	Galle	Sacred Heart Convert
17	Mr.M.A.L.Nuwan	Hambantota	Ruhunu Wijayaba M.V
18	Ms.W.H.D.Maduwanthi	Hambantota	Rajapaksha M.M.V
19	Ms.V.A.D.Madhurika	Hambantota	Rajapaksha M.M.V
20	Ms.J.D.D.Nadeeshani	Hambantota	Rajapaksha M.M.V

21	Ms.K.G.R.Nilanthi	Moneragala	Mahanama Central College
22	Mr.K.W.R.U.Kumara	Moneragala	Mahanama Central College
23	Ms.P.A.S.Udeshika	Moneragala	Mahanama Central College
24	Ms.S.J.Geekiyanage	Moneragala	Malwaththawa N.S
25	Ms.R.M.T.Lakmali	Badulla	Viharamahadevi B.V
26	Mr.R.M.M.P.Ratnayaka	Badulla	Bandarawela M.M.V
27	Ms.R.M.L.S.Ratnayake	Badulla	Bandarawela M.M.V
28	Mr.S.L.K.R.Muniweera	Badulla	Bandarawela M.M.V
29	Mr.L.R.S.Udayanga	Ratnapura	Seevali C.C
30	Ms.W.R.N.J.Gunawardhana	Ratnapura	Ferguson H.S
31	Mr.V.P.N.Priyadharshana	Ratnapura	Embilipitiya M.V
32	Ms.P.U.N.Lakmali	Ratnapura	Balangoad Ananda Meethriya N.S
33	Mr.K.G.D.I.U.Kalugala	Kegalle	Pinnawala N.S
34	Ms.W.M.S.Wijesooriya	Kegalle	St.Joseph B.M.V
35	Mr.W.A.T.M.De Silva	Kegalle	Pinnawala N.S
36	Ms.H.R.U.D.Senanayaka	Kegalle	St.Joseph B.M.V
37	Ms.M.N.J.A.Ramanayaka	Colombo	Vishaka College
38	Mr.K.U.Ranasingha	Colombo	Royal College
39	Ms.T.P.Vijayadari	Colombo	Vishaka College
40	Ms.U.S.Kothalawala	Colombo	Vishaka College
41	Ms.J.A.M.T.Abewardhana	Gampaha	Rathnawali B.M.V
42	Ms.R.H.S.S.Ratnayaka	Gampaha	Rathnawali B.M.V
43	Ms.N.H.Wickramanayake	Gampaha	Viharamaha devi B.M.V
44	Ms.M.H.A.T.Madhushani	Gampaha	Rathnawali B.M.V
45	Ms.I.W.W.L.Dayananda	Kalutara	Taxila M.M.V
46	Ms.A.D.B.Madushani	Kalutara	Sripali College
47	Mr.S.B.E.Senadeera	Kalutara	Taxila M.M.V
48	Mr.M.A.T.Anuraddha	Kalutara	Taxila M.M.V
49	Mr.S.P.I.M.C.S.Illukkumbura	Kandy	Dharmaraja College
50	Mr.H.P.T.N.K.Jayaratna	Kandy	Kingswood College
51	Ms.D.P.H.M.Kanchana Mala	Kandy	Pushpadana B.V
52	Ms.G.G.N.M.Gunasekara	Kandy	Girls High School
53	Ms.P.Miriyalini	Nuwara Eliya	Highlands College
54	Mr.H.M.J.B.Heenkenda	Nuwara Eliya	Poramadulla M.M.V
55	Ms.H.G.A.Surangi	Nuwara Eliya	Poramadulla M.M.V
56	Mr.M.G.C.M.Bandara	Nuwara Eliya	Harangala M.V
57	Ms.R.C.N.Thilakaratne	Matale	Sri Sangamiththa N.S
58	Ms.D.M.T.T.Dissanayaka	Matale	Sri Sangamiththa B.M.V
59	Mr.W.M.D.M.Disanayka	Matale	Weeraparakrama C.C
60	Ms.H.C.Suluckshika	Matale	Sahara M.V
61	Ms.M.M.S.Priyadharshani	Kurunagalla	Maliyadeva G.S
62	Ms.A.B.T.M.S.B.Welagedara	Kurunagalla	Maliyadeva G.S
63	Ms.A.D.L.B.Manuwary	Kurunagalla	Maliyadeva G.S
64	Ms.R.W.S.N.Karunatilaka	Kurunagalla	Maliyadeva G.S
65	Ms.W.M.W.U.Tissera	Puttalam	Annanda N.S

66	Ms.S.Varsha	Puttalam	Nasriya C.C
67	Ms.E.A.I.Kularatna	Puttalam	Holy Family B.M.V
68	Mr.N.M.Nawfar	Puttalam	Zahira N.S
69	Mr.P.S.P.Premathilaka	Ampara	Badulla M.M.V
70	Ms.S.Thanurshiya	Ampara	Carmel Fathma College
71	Mr.M.Y.A.I.M.Yoosuff	Ampara	Zahira College
72	Mr.Sathees	Ampara	Carmel Fathma College
73	Mr.S.Prashanth	Batticaloa	St.Michael’s College
74	N.Nilusha	Batticaloa	Periyakallaur C.C
75	Mr.P.Anojan	Batticaloa	Shivanandan Vidyalaya
76	Ms.A.L.F.Mirfaha	Batticaloa	Alighar N.S
77	Ms.T.Kowshika	Trincomalee	Orr’s Hill Vivekananda College
78	Ms.W.M.J.Sagarika	Trincomalee	Sinhala M.M.V
79	Mr.M.M.Suhail	Trincomalee	K.M.Sri Koneswara Hindu College
80	Mr.M.T.Dulraj	Trincomalee	Sinhala M.M.V
81	Mr.K.Kandeenban	Mannar	Sithy Vinayagar Hindu College
82	Ms.A.M.B.Croos	Mannar	Sithy Vinayagar Hindu College
83	Ms.T.Keerthiga	Mannar	Sithy Vinayagar Hindu College
84	Ms.S.Thushanthini	Mannar	Sithy Vinayagar Hindu College

85	Mr.B.Thanshayan	Mullaitivu	Vidyananda College
86	Ms.B.Pushpadayana	Mullaitivu	Puthukkudiyiruppu C.C
87	Mr.J.Anojan	Mullaitivu	Vidyananda College
88	Ms.T.Kugapriya	Mullaitivu	Vishvamadu M.V
89	Mr.K.Nirujan	Jaffna	Hndu College
90	Mr.A.Nitharshan	Jaffna	Vigneshwara College
91	Mr.L.Gopinath	Jaffna	Hndu College
92	Ms.R.Hamzathwany	Jaffna	Vembadi G.H.S
93	Mr.K.Pratheeshwaran	Vavuniya	Vavuniya T.M.M.V
94	Ms.S.Brintha	Vavuniya	Saivapragasa Ladies College
95	Mr.B.Thanusan	Vavuniya	Vavuniya T.M.M.V
96	Mr.V.Thuvaragan	Vavuniya	Vipulananda College
97	Ms.A.Renuka	Kilinochchi	Kilinochchi C.C
98	Ms.P.Jothiga	Kilinochchi	Vaddakachchi M.V
99	Ms.N.Bavithra	Kilinochchi	St.Thresa’s G.C
100	Ms.S.Thirshanthiny	Kilinochchi	St.Thresa’s G.C

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Scholarship Programme for Diaspora (PIO) Children – 2009
11.08.2008

To assist children of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in pursuing Under Graduate courses in Higher and Technical fields in India, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs of the Government of India introduced a Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) in 2006. Under this Programme, 67 PIO/NRI students were granted scholarship during the academic year 2006-07 while 81 students were granted scholarship in the next academic year. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs seeks application for the Scholarship Programme for the academic year 2009-10. The highlights of the scholarship are as follows:

100 scholarships are being offered for Undergraduate courses in disciplines including Engineering/Architecture/Technology, Humanities/Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management – BBA/BBM, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture/Animal Husbandry, Science, Law etc.

The Programme is open only to PIOs/NRIs from the specified 40 countries including Sri Lanka.

The last date for receipt of duly filled in prescribed application form by Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL) is 9th September, 2008.

Candidates would be selected on the basis of a common entrance test to be conducted by Ed.CIL on 26th October, 2008 at the High Commission of India, Colombo. Exact timings would be intimated later. The candidates would also have to fulfill the entire criterion prescribed for the purpose.

The amount of scholarship admissible would be 75% of Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) or US$ 3,600 (US$ Three thousand six hundred), whichever is less. IEC includes tuition fee, hostel fee and other institutional charges.

For further information, please visit Ed.CIL websites www.edcil.co.in; and www.educationindia4u.nic.in

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The attention of this High Commission has been drawn to various media reports regarding the security cover to Mr. M.K. Narayanan, National Security Advisor, during the recently concluded 15th SAARC Summit. This High Commission wishes to state that there was a serious lapse in that some of the arrangements discussed and agreed to in advance, did not get implemented on the ground. The matter was immediately discussed with Sri Lankan security authorities and remedial measures taken jointly.

It is not the practice of this High Commission to comment on security issues in detail. Sri Lankan security authorities have apologized to Mr. Narayanan. We now consider this matter closed.

06.08.2008
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