India provides wonderful opportunity for students to enrich their academic excellence: ICCR President

President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has said that India provides a wonderful opportunity for students to enrich their academic excellence. Speaking after launching the Sri Lanka chapter of India Alumni in Colombo, he stressed the knowledge traditions existing in India.

He said that India is repaying the debt of Sri Lanka welcoming Prince Mahinda and Princess Sanghamitta by hosting its students. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe added that ICCR provides a large number of scholarships to students to enable them to pursue education in over 43000 colleges under over 1100 universities at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral research levels.

He considered the scholars visiting India, modern-day Hiuen Tsang, Fa Hien and Alberunis. He said these students who have studied in India will pursue bright careers in their home country and will also spread the light of education and knowledge tradition in India.

On the occasion, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay said the ideals of Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya are best represented by the students. He added that relationships between people are most important in the case of ties between democracies.

Dr Sahasrabuddhe also gave away a distinguished Alumnus Award to Prof. Lal Mervin Dharmasiri. The president of ICCR reached Colombo earlier today as he commenced his 4-day visit to the island nation. He is scheduled to visit the Dalada Maligawa temple in Kandy. He will also visit Anuradhapura and Jaffna during his visit.