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ITEC underscores, highlights India’s contribution to Lankans’ Higher Education
View(s):High Commissioner (HC) of India Y.K Sinha this week said that Sri Lanka was one of the topmost partner countries of Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC), with 208 Lankans, including senior Government officials, going to India annually, for training in over 100 
courses.
The HC was speaking at a function to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the ITEC Programme. The annual get-together of ITEC alumni and Lankan students studying in India under various Scholarship programmes of the Government of India, was held on Monday at Hotel Taj Samudra.
He said that ITEC, initiated in 1964 as India’s bilateral programme of assistance, was being constantly re-designed and refocused, based on the evolving needs of India’s partners, including Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is one of the most important partner countries of the ITEC and Colombo Plan Scholarship programmes.
Minister of Higher Education & Research, Dr Sarath Amunugama who was the Chief Guest, appreciated India’s valuable scholarship assistance for Lankan nationals, and acknowledged that these Educational and Technical scholarships helped bridge the gap between demand and supply for such programmes in Sri Lanka.
The ITEC programme is run by the Government of India to encourage cooperation and partnership among developing countries.
International Students Day is observed every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, first Education Minister of Independent India and founder president of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Nearly 270 Scholarships and self-financing slots are offered each year to Lankan students for higher studies in India.
The main categories under which the Scholarships are offered are:
- Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme: 120 ICCR Scholarships are offered annually under this programmes for higher studies in India. Students can pursue undergraduate courses in all disciplines including Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, Commerce, Humanities and Arts.
- Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme: This Scheme has been initiated from 2012-13, to provide 25 ICCR Scholarships every year for ‘Bachelor of Engineering’ courses in IT, in some of the top-ranked institutes in India.
- Maulana Azad Scholarship Scheme: This Scheme has been added from academic year 2012-13 wherein 50 ICCR Scholarships are provided annually for Masters Degrees.
- AYUSH Scholarships: About 10 Scholarships are offered every year in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, leading to Undergraduate, Masters and Research Degrees.
- Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme (ICCR): 5 Scholarships to pursue PhD in various disciplines.
- ICCR Undergraduate Scholarships: Up to 10 Undergraduate Scholarships for Music, Dancing and Art.
- Subsidized Self Financed Slots: The Government of India has reserved up to 40 seats, of which, 4 to 5 slots are for Sri Lankan students in the most reputed Government institutions, for Undergraduate courses in Medicine (MBBS), Pharmacy (B.Pharm) & Engineering (BE/BTech).
- Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship: The Government of India offers 150 Scholarships to meritorious Lankan students; 6 from each of the 25 districts.
- Scholarships for Children of Estate Workers: 350 Scholarships are offered annually to pursue their Advanced Level and Undergraduate studies.