High Commissioner congratulates Australia awards recipients

Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie hosted a reception at the Galle Face Hotel on 26 November to congratulate 20 Sri Lankans who will study at Australian universities in 2016 as part of the Australia Awards program.

“The provision of quality higher education is an important shared endeavour for Sri Lanka and Australia, and it is an important bond between our countries,” said Mudie.

The 20 newest recipients will join 63 other Sri Lankans currently studying on scholarships in Australia, as well as 6000 other Sri Lankans studying privately.

The awardees will complete their Masters degrees in a range of fields including environmental science, development economics, engineering and public policy.

Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie and Minister for Skills Development and Vocational Training Mahinda Samarasinghe with Sri Lankan Australia Awards recipients who will study at Australian universities in 2016

All 20 recipients were selected from a competitive field of over 150 applicants based on their academic abilities and commitment to the long-term development of Sri Lanka.

Addressing the recipients, Mudie said, “You will return from your studies to Sri Lanka with newfound skills and experiences that will enable you to pursue positions of leadership and influence in your respective fields. I encourage you all – men and women – to make the most of these skills, to think big and to aim high.”

Thirteen of this year’s Australia Awards recipients are women and Mudie noted in her speech that, “one of the key goals of the Australia Awards program is to foster women’s leadership, and we hope that by awarding scholarships to women in Sri Lanka, and other countries, that we are contributing to opportunities for Sri Lankan women to become leaders of the future.”

The Chief Guest at the reception was the Minister for Skills Development and Vocational Training Mahinda Samarasinghe, who is an alumnus of La Trobe University in Melbourne.

Over 100 other esteemed Sri Lankans, all of whom are alumni of Australian universities, graced the event.

The next round of Australia Awards Scholarships will be open for applications from 1 February 2016 until 30 April 2016. Please visit the Australia Awards website www.australiaawards.gov.au or www.australiaawardssrilanka.org for further information.