In supporting President Mahinda Rajapaksa's initiative in educating Sri Lankan school students to be proficient in an international language ( English ) for them to compete with the rest of the world and lead the world tomorrow, the Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Minor Irrigation, Industries & Environment of Western Province Udaya Gammanpila has guided British College of Business Studies, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka to offer scholarship programmes in English Language Studies for O/L and A/L students with remarkable exam results.

BCBS has selected a few students from the northern and eastern area who secured outstanding O/L and A/L results and given them scholarships to study English Language programmes at their Campus in Colombo 3. Shobitha Theivindram, who has secured 3 "A" passes in her A/L in 2009, a student from Uduppiddy Girls' College in Uduppiddy, Valvettiturai, Jaffna was awarded the scholarship at the Minister's office on June 3. Together with the Minister, the Director of Education of BCBS and the Head of IT Department were present at the occasion.

Shobitha said she is delighted to receive the scholarship and to learn English. English Language was always a barrier to her but with the opportunity she got from BCBS, she will be able to overcome the language barrier and face the international world. Also she stated that she is impressed with the teachers / lecturers and the learning facilities at BCBS. It is not just an institute, she added "It is an institute with a concern for the development of the nation and assists the northern area to raise its head". She thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for taking extra efforts to develop the northern area and initiate the teaching of English Language. Also she thanked Minister Udaya Gammanpila for guiding BCBS to award such valuable scholarships.

Mr. Prince Dhevarajah Head of IT Department added that it is everyone's responsibility to take part in the development process in Sri Lanka and said he was happy to be present at the event. Haresh Gunasekera, Director Education BCBS explained that giving the knowledge to the people is not enough but we should prepare them to compete with the rest of the world. We have the best professionals and other experts in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately some of them are not able to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and expertise outside Sri Lanka, or compete with the world professionals due to the lack of knowledge in English Language.

If we can sharpen their English knowledge and give them an ability to communicate in an international language, they could become the best professionals in the world. He added "I think it is a very important factor that we should spread English as an international Language as much as possible.Mahindainthanaya has given priority and considerable importance to the teaching of English, especially to schoolchildren. If I don't speak Tamil and if a Tamil person does not speak Sinhala we will not be able to communicate. When we don't communicate we don't understand each other.