President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the country will soon see the establishment of numerous new educational institutions, both public and private. These new institutions will provide young people with opportunities for higher education that meet global standards.

The President made this statement during a ceremony this morning (12) at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, where he inaugurated the “Times Institute of Higher Education.”

The Times Institute of Higher Education, which is a subsidiary of Wijaya Newspaper Company Limited, has been set up to offer education aligned with international standards. It is working in collaboration with three foreign universities and higher education institutions to achieve this goal.

A diverse array of job-oriented education courses are offered at the Times Institute of Higher Education, encompassing three main qualification categories: certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma courses. Additionally, the institute provides professional skill development programs as well as undergraduate and postgraduate programs through its Digital Academy.

The institute’s activities will be overseen by a five-member advisory board, appointed by the Wijaya Newspaper Company. This board comprises experts in the field and aims to ensure that the education provided meets global standards. The governing authority has expressed its commitment to enhancing the quality of education for Sri Lankan youth by establishing connections with more foreign universities in the future.

During the inauguration event, President Wickremesinghe also launched the new website for the “Times Institute of Higher Education.”

Addressing the gathering President Ranil Wickremesinghe further elaborated;

Today, I had the privilege of inaugurating the Times Institute of Higher Education, an institution designed to meet the demands of modern education. This institute aims to offer diploma opportunities to students who have completed their A-level examinations.

As our country advances toward an export-oriented economy and looks ahead to the mid-21st century, acquiring new knowledge becomes crucial. Consequently, we will need more institutions like this one in the future. The Times Institute also features a digital academy, which will greatly benefit the youth of our nation.

We plan to allocate government funds to support 50,000 youths to receive  vocational training at recognized institutions. We have the capability to establish such institutions to provide this training, complementing existing training programs. Additionally, as our country develops over the coming years, increased investment opportunities and the creation of new industries are expected to generate approximately 100,000 new jobs in both the public and private sectors.

To achieve this, it is crucial that educational institutions meet high standards. Therefore, we plan to expand the number of both public and private educational institutions in our country. Our goal is to provide the youth with the support they need to access quality employment opportunities.

Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha, representatives from international educational institutions, including New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, H.E. David Pine, Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge and its officials, Director of Times School of Higher Education Janaka Rathnakumara and its academic staff, university lecturers, the Board of Directors of the Wijaya Newspaper Company, and various other invitees were also present at the event.