Australian High Commission
MEDIA RELEASE
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9 December 2013
Australian High Commissioner congratulates Australia Awards recipients
The Australian High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms Robyn Mudie, hosted a reception in Colombo last evening to congratulate 38 Sri Lankans who have been offered Australia Awards to undertake post-graduate degrees at Australian universities in 2014.
“Australia has been a long term partner in supporting Sri Lanka to help achieve the national development goals of the country”, said Ms Mudie.
The 38 Australia Awards are valued at approximately AUD 6 million. This represents a significant component of the Australian aid program to Sri Lanka, which focuses on education, sustainable economic development and health.
“The Australia Awards are a significant component of Australia’s investment in Sri Lanka’s long term development. They open up new learning opportunities to Sri Lankans who have the potential to be catalysts for sustainable development. The Australia Awards also foster enduring people-to-people links and partnerships between Australia and Sri Lanka,” said Ms Mudie.
The Chief Guest at the reception was the Honourable Professor G L Peiris, Minister for External Affairs.
Other distinguished guests at the event included the Honourable Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, and the Honourable Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Minor Irrigation, Industries and Environmental Affairs of the Western Provincial Council.
Approximately 200 people also attended the event, including members of the newly established Sri Lanka Australia Awards Alumni Association, which provides an opportunity for Awardees to network and interact after they return from studies in Australia.
Four awardees from the cohort have been selected for the prestigious Australian Leadership Awards. They will join more than 1200 emerging leaders across Asia and the Pacific who have been conferred Australian Leadership Awards since 2007.
“These students were selected for their outstanding potential to influence positive social and economic development in Sri Lanka and in the region”, said Ms Mudie.
Eight awardees form the cohort have been offered Australia Award Endeavour Awards to undertake doctoral or post-doctoral studies.
The 38 recipients of Australia Awards will undertake degrees at Australian universities in fields such as education, economics and health.
Further information about the Australia Awards can be found at www.australiaawards.gov.au