COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Moscow State Medical University Sechenov, a renowned institution with a nearly 150-year legacy, is exploring investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s higher education sector.
Last Saturday, a high-level academic delegation from the university visited Sri Lanka. The delegation participated in discussions at the Russian Cultural Centre, followed by a meeting with the Minister of Education and Health, along with senior officials from the Medical Council.
Professor Petr Glybochko, Rector of Sechenov University, expressed the delegation’s keen interest in establishing a presence in Sri Lanka. They are looking to take over and operate an abandoned medical facility with student accommodation, ideally located in the Western Province.
Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, the project’s mentor and former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, highlighted the long-standing cordial relations between the two countries. He also emphasized that the Russian delegation is impressed with Sri Lanka’s current economic climate.
The proposed university campus in Sri Lanka holds the potential to attract foreign students, generating valuable foreign exchange income for the country. Additionally, Sri Lankan students would have the opportunity to pursue medical degrees at a local institution, reducing the need for studying abroad and the associated foreign exchange outflow.
The visiting delegation also held meetings with parents of students currently studying or planning to study in Russia. This outreach aims to further strengthen educational ties between Sri Lanka and Russia.
The Russian Embassy’s First Secretary, Maria Popova, and the Director of the Russian House in Colombo, Buddhapriya Ramanayake, announced the launch of a new initiative. The Russian Center will introduce a special program to help Sri Lankan students prepare for higher education in Russia.
This potential collaboration between Moscow State Medical University Sechenov and Sri Lanka represents a significant development in the field of higher education. It has the potential to benefit both nations by providing Sri Lankan students with access to world-class medical education and attracting foreign students to Sri Lanka.