Japan Grants JPY 282 Million to Sri Lanka for Public Sector Scholarship Programme

The Government of Japan has provided a grant of JPY 282 million, approximately Rs. 591 million, to Sri Lanka to support the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) programme.

The programme will enable 15 promising Sri Lankan public sector officials to undertake two-year Master’s degree programmes at Japanese universities from 2027, according to the Embassy of Japan in Colombo.

The scholars will specialise in fields including Public Policy, International Relations, International Development, Macroeconomics, Public Finance and Investment Management, Industry Development Policy and Investment Promotion.

The grant assistance was formalised on Monday (17), with Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata and Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, signing and exchanging the relevant documents in Colombo.

Since its launch in 2010, the JDS programme has supported 254 Sri Lankan public sector officials, the Japanese Embassy said.

Japan said the programme aims to strengthen the professional capabilities of public officials, enhance the institutional capacity of Sri Lanka’s public sector and contribute to sustainable national development.

The programme is also expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Japan, with returning scholars contributing to closer ties through networks established during their studies in Japan.