High Commission of India in Colombo organized a function on February 22, 2006 at Hotel Taj Samudra to observe "Foreign Students and ITEC Day". Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Hon'ble Mangala Samaraweera was the Chief Guest on the occasion. A cultural programme was also organized to mark this occasion. Two former ICCR scholars Mr. Gayan Jeyasinge and Mrs. Chamila Edward presented flute and vocal recitals. Nearly six hundred alumni of ICCR and ITEC attended this programme.

The High Commissioner of India Mrs. Nirupama Rao who spoke on the occasion said that, it is heartening to see alumni of ITEC and ICCR scholarship programmes gather in large numbers to celebrate ITEC Day and Foreign Students' Day. On the occasion of Foreign Students' Day India commemorates the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who was one of the architects of free India, her first Education Minister and who was instrumental in the setting up of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).

She mentioned that Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme popularly known as "ITEC" was launched in 1964 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India. Under ITEC and its corollary SCAAP (a programme of assistance meant for Commonwealth Countries in Africa) about 154 countries in Asia, East Europe, Africa and Latin America are invited to share in the Indian Developmental experience acquired over five decades of our existence as a free Nation. India spends about INRs.500 million annually on ITEC activities. Since 1964, India has provided nearly US $2 billion worth of technical assistance to developing countries.

The High Commissioner added that Sri Lanka is one of the largest beneficiaries of the ITEC programme. Every year, 50 slots are awarded to Sri Lanka. Training under this programme is one of the important facets of our multi faceted relationship. This is in addition to 100 similar slots under the Colombo Plan and BIMSTEC scholarship schemes.

She said that approximately 70 students are offered ICCR scholarships every year to study in the Indian universities and institutions in different courses.

She also said that we all live in a knowledge society where the development process is steered as much by technological innovations as by a constantly evolving human resource base. While India missed the opportunity of direct participation in the industrial revolution, India is in the forefront of the knowledge revolution. We have the second largest pool of technological human resources including perhaps, the largest pool of IT professionals. Whether it is cutting edge technologies like ICT and nano- technology or space sciences or rural technology, India has a robust framework which supports and propels her growth trajectory.

She pointed out that India like Sri Lanka, is also a developing country and can not offer grants-in-aid to match those of the developed countries. It does, however, possess manpower skills and technology more appropriate to local requirements and the stage of technological development of developing countries. There is thus a compatibility which leads itself to easier absorption of the courses and technologies offered, causes less dislocation to the participants, both cultural and geographical and thereby produces more effective results and happier and more satisfied professionals. She quoted, as the Late Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar said, our bilateral relation have reached a ‘state of irreversible excellence'. ITEC and ICCR scholarships are a testimony to that.

High Commissioner of India referred to several measures funded by India to enhance cooperation in the field of education and training were also agreed upon. These include the Mahatma Gandhi scholarship scheme for 100 deserving Sri Lankan students every year, the upgradation of libraries and science laboratories in the Upcountry areas, the setting up of a Chair in Contemporary Indian studies in Peradeniya University and commissioning of a field study on vocational training centres.

The Foreign Minister, Hon'ble Mangala Samaraweera, in his address to the gathering, recalled the stellar role played by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in India's freedom struggle and in nation-building post-independence.

The Foreign Minister also stated that the ITEC and the ICCR scholarships provided by the Government of India were an important benefit which young Sri Lankans should avail of more and more. He went on to recall the many illustrious Sri Lankans who had studied in India.

Colombo