Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu said India had been able to write the development partnership stories based on Sri Lanka’s own priorities and requirements.

He made this remarks at the inauguration ceremony of Master’s Degree programme at the John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). 

"Whether it be the rehabilitation of KKS Harbour, or setting up of model villages across the country, or helping the farming and fishing communities in the South or extension of emergency ambulance service island-wide, India is proud of the fact that she has been able to write the development partnership stories in Sri Lanka, based on Sri Lanka’s own priorities," the High Commissioner said. 

High Commissioner highlighted importance of higher education and research in the growth of a country. He said that India currently has the third-largest scientific and technical manpower in the world. I

"India has also become the second largest market for e-learning with more than one-third of the top 1,000 global R&D spenders having their centres in India," he added..

Citing the 750 scholarships and 400 ITEC fellowships that India gives to Sri Lanka every year, High Commissioner said that India, as a country, has never believed in keeping its resources to itself.

"Even while having to confront with its own developmental challenges, India has always believed in sharing what we have," the High Commissioner also said.