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Thursday, 6 June 2013 01:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Development Policy Framework of the Government of Sri Lanka ‘Mahinda Chinthana Vision for the Future’ has identified the necessity to transform Sri Lanka into a knowledge based economy.
In line with the above, the Government has taken measures to improve the capacity of the public sector officials. Under these initiatives, various development partners have committed to extend their cooperation to provide considerable amount of foreign training opportunities to Sri Lanka.
The Government of Japan is one of the major development partners that have provided long term and short term foreign training opportunities to Sri Lanka during the last five years.
The Government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant assistance of Japanese 192 million Yen (approximately Rs. 245 million) for the year 2013, for the implementation of the final stage of Human Resources Development Scholarship Program Framework 2010 to 2013.
Under the program ‘15 long term scholarship’, opportunities were given each year for Government Officials to follow Masters Degree Programs in reputed universities in Japan in the fields of public policy, public finance, public administration, regional development, macro economics and development economics.
The Master Degree holders under the above grant assistance are expected to contribute to the social and economic development of the country in a very productive manner. It is also expected that this program will contribute to strengthen the bilateral relationship among these two countries.
During the period 2010 to 2012, 45 scholarships have been provided under the program. The Government of Japan has provided grant assistance of Japanese 229, 208 Yen and 201 million for 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively for the program.
The scholars of the first batch have returned to Sri Lanka last year, after the successful completion of their Master Degree Programs and the Report Session of the first batch has already been conducted successfully. The second and third batches are currently studying at the Japanese universities.
An Exchange of Notes between the two governments and the signing of agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the JICA for the implementation of the Human Resources Development Scholarship program for year 2013, under Japanese grant aid took place yesterday, at the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo, on behalf of the Government of Japan and JICA Chief Representative Harumi Ao on behalf of the JICA, signed the agreement while Ministry of Finance and Planning Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.
