To commemorate the 59th anniversary of the fruitful capacity building partnership between India and Sri Lanka through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, High Commission of India in Sri Lanka organised ITEC day in Colombo. The event attracted a diverse gathering of over 100 participants. Among them were ITEC alumni from Sri Lanka, as well as officials and professionals representing various sectors, all of whom had benefited from a range of training courses in India under ITEC programs.
Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Suren Raghavan, praised the enduring ties between the two nations strengthened further through years of cooperation. He commended India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission and recognized the contributions of Indian women scientists involved in the lunar mission. Dr. Raghavan expressed gratitude for India’s support, including ITEC slots and scholarships for Sri Lankan nationals, and recent financial assistance to help Sri Lanka emerge from the economic crisis. He emphasized the potential for further collaboration, particularly in higher education, skill development, and capacity building.
Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Satyanjal Pandey highlighted India’s commitment to assisting Sri Lanka in the education sector and underscored India’s dedication to capacity building. The Deputy High Commissioner reiterated India’s guiding philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ emphasizing India’s continued leadership in capacity building programs for Sri Lanka.
ITEC program, launched by the Government of India in September 1964, has become a vital component of India’s contribution to human resource development globally, with participants from 160 countries benefiting from the program. Currently, Sri Lanka is allotted 402 training slots annually under ITEC. ‘ITEC Day’ is celebrated worldwide by Indian diplomatic missions, marking this remarkable pillar of South-South partnership.
