The British Council in Sri Lanka recently organized its annual networking event to welcome back the latest cohort of Commonwealth Scholars from Sri Lanka who have completed their studies in the UK. The event, held at Mövenpick Colombo, saw a significant turnout of Commonwealth Scholars from Sri Lanka, along with British Council staff. The occasion included an insightful panel discussion featuring five returning scholars who shared details about their application process, subject choices, university experiences, life in the UK, and their short- and long-term plans for applying their newfound knowledge. Following the discussion, an interactive networking session took place. The 2023 returning scholars have successfully completed postgraduate studies in diverse fields such as Dementia Studies, Plant Molecular Genetics, Crop Science, Human Resource Management, Virology, Special and Inclusive Education, Environmental Engineering, Geographical Information Systems, Economics, and Development Economics.
Sanjeevani Munasinghe, the Head of Programmes at the British Council, remarked on the Commonwealth Scholarship scheme, noting its establishment in 1960. She highlighted that out of over 30,000 global scholars, nearly 1,150 Sri Lankans have been afforded the opportunity to pursue studies at prestigious UK universities. Munasinghe emphasized the significant contributions of these scholars to various fields, with the alumni list boasting individuals who have excelled as Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, Nobel Prize winners, academics, diplomats, writers, and leaders in prominent NGOs and businesses. Among the notable achievements, scholars from Sri Lanka have taken on roles such as Central Bank Governor, Bank Chairpersons, Vice Chancellors of universities, Chair of the University Grants Commission, and more.
Education Programmes Manager Hameema Haniff from the British Council emphasized the significance of scholars keeping their contact details up-to-date on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website. This is especially important as the CSC is planning activities to mark its 65th anniversary. Additionally, Haniff underscored the crucial role that past scholars, often now academics, can play in promoting the scholarship to students and junior lecturers in their respective universities. She also provided a summary of the events and accomplishments of the Commonwealth Scholarship over the past year.
