The Indian Education Fair – EdCIL 2011 was declared opened to the general public by the Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayke and the guest of honour the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Hon. Shri. Ashok K. Kantha along with a delegation of distinguished personalities that arrived in the Island especially for this event organized by Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL) with support and the endorsement of the High Commission of India in Colombo. The event which was inaugurated today will continue to display all areas of higher educational activities of India, as the ‘largest ever single country show’ of its kind in Sri Lanka, on May 13, 14 and 15 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre at BMICH in Colombo.

The Minister discuses with EdCIL hierarchy. From left to right Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Hon. Shri. Ashok K. Kantha, Dr. Shaik Suleman – Deputy General Manager, EdCIL,Ms. Anju Banerjee – Chairperson/ Managing Director, EdCIL, Chief Guest - The Minister for Higher Education in Sri Lanka S. B. Dissanayke.

It was a combination of two important forces, as EdCIL 2011 was duly recognized by the High Commission of India in Colombo as a worthy cause and the involvement of Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL), the organizers of EdCIL – Indian Education Fair 2011, as a ‘Public Sector Enterprise’ of the Government of India made the entire event a success. With a strong resource base and a professionally competent and dedicated workforce offering consultancy services in all areas of education and human resource development, in India and beyond national boundaries with special focus on developing countries of Asia and Africa, Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL) recognizes and recommends all professional and authentic educational institutes in India.

Delivering the inauguration presentation, Mrs. Anju Banerjee the Chairperson/ Managing Director of EdCIL, commented a bit on the history when great institutes in India such as ‘Thakshila’ and ‘Nalanda’ were producing world renowned personalities with high calibre not only for India but also for the entire Asian region. And she went on to say this same class of education continued and at present attracts a major student population from Sri Lanka. India has developed and reached a very high standard of education and as the closest neighbour we are really happy to share this development opportunity with the Sri Lankan student community. Mrs. Banerjee concluded with an open invitation to all students seeking higher education in India describing it as the land of endless education opportunities.

Addressing the gathering, Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Hon. Shri Ashok K. Kantha stressed the importance of EdCIL 2011 as an educational event happening in Sri Lanka and went on to say that we as the diplomatic community are delighted on such events taking place. Extending his gratitude to the Minister who continues with his usual support towards educational matters between both countries the Ambassador highlighted the importance of higher education as a main contributor to the country’s economy and GDP through the service sector. Towards the end of his speech the High Commissioner, Ashok Kantha, made a humble request to EdCIL, who could include this event to their annual calendar and further strengthen the educational links between the two neighbours.

Minister S. B. Dissanayke, started delivering his speech with vital statistics of Sri Lankan students engaged in Indian educational institutions. The figure was around 12,000 studying various subjects from Medicine, Engineering to Arts. He was impressed on the Indian higher educational opportunities available for the Sri Lankan student especially in an environment where out of about 150,000 students who qualify for higher education only 22,000 could be accommodated locally due to limited resources available. The Minister before concluding this views, marked EdCIL 2011 exhibition as a supportive event or a project focused in-line with the ‘Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma’ a vision towards the betterment of the education system in Sri Lanka.

The exhibition also gives the opportunity for students from the North and East as the second-leg of EdCIL – Indian Education Fair 2011 scheduled in Jaffna for May 17 and 18. As ‘Professional Exhibition Organizers’, Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services [LECS], lived-up to their usual capacity and capability in handling such events of international standards and the ‘Team LECS’ led by veteran personalities in the field of exhibitions & conventions, made sure all arrangements were executed to perfection with a personalized service.