Japan pledges further Rs. 245 m through Human Resource Development Scholarship

The Government of Japan has selected the second batch of 15 prospective scholars under the Second Phase of its Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) Program 2015, which commenced in September 2014, based on an official agreement with the Sri Lankan Government.

The JDS Program aims to train and develop the skills of young executive officers in the public sector to become future national leaders of Sri Lanka, especially in formulating and implementing the national development plans. 

The Second Phase of the JDS program accommodates a total of 60 officials in four batches during the period from 2014 to 2017, providing the opportunity to pursue a two-year Master’s course in the fields of Public Policy and Public Finance, Economics, Business Management or Environmental Management, Disaster Management and Climate Change at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Hitotsubashi University, Hiroshima University, Waseda University, International University of Japan (IUJ), University of Tsukuba and the University of Tokyo. 

On the successful completion of the study program, the officials will be awarded a MA, MSc., or MBA. 

The Second Phase of the JDS Program is open to all ministries in Sri Lanka, while the First Phase was limited to the Ministries of Finance and Planning, Public Administrations and Home Affairs, Local Government and Provincial Councils and Economic Development. 

This year the Japanese Government pledged a grant amounting to 226 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs. 245 million) to cover the cost of the study programs of the second batch of 15 officials in Japan. The Human Resource Development Scholarship program has benefited 90 public sector officials in Sri Lanka since its inception in 2010.

The signing of the Exchange of Notes for this grant aid scheme took place on 23 July at the Ministry of Finance between Japanese Ambassador Kenichi Suganuma on behalf of the Japanese Government and Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government. 

Additionally, the signing of the Grant Agreements between Kiyoshi Amada, Chief Representative of JICA’s Sri Lanka Office and Dr. Samaratunga also took place at the same occasion.