Higher Education to benefit from Budget 2018
View(s):The Govt, in its 2018 Budget, has proposed measures that would benefit undergraduates of State Universities.
Among them include a Health Insurance scheme for Rs 100 million and 3 additional Medical Faculties at Wayamba, Sabaragamuwa and Moratuwa Universities, at a cost of Rs 1,250 million.
A professorial unit at a cost of Rs 50 million will also be established at the Karapitiya Hospital, for the Medical Faculty at Ruhuna University.
Rs 75 million has also been allocated to increase the annual income threshold of Rs 300,000 per household for the Mahapola Scholarship scheme, to Rs 500,000, benefiting an additional 3,000 students.
Another Rs 5,000 million has been set aside for the expansion of Technology Degree programmes in Information & Communication Technology, Engineering Technology and Bio Systems Technology at Rajarata, Ruhuna, Sabaragamuwa, Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri Jayawardenapura and South Eastern Universities.
Furthermore, the Colombo University will receive Rs 250 million for its collaborative ventures with industries, including Data Science, Big Data Analytics, Actuarial Studies and Business Analytics.
The Vavuniya campus will have a state-of-the-art Library and an IT Centre at a cost of Rs 200 million.
The Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine will be set up at a cost of Rs 40 million.
The Ruhunua University will get Rs 250 million to set up a Naval Studies & Shipping Centre. – CC