Meeting on 31 May 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand, AIT
President Said Irandoust updated Sri Lanka's President Rajapaksa
about the Asian Institute of Technology’s progress on exploratory
efforts to establish a satellite campus in Sri Lanka.
Keen to see AIT have a
presence in his country, President Rajapaksa indicated his support for
international campus projects which can assist the island
nation to become a major regional hub for higher learning.
The president briefed
President Rajapaksa on possibilities for AIT realizing this goal, and
the benefits it would bring to both Thailand and Sri Lanka,
as they seek to raise their higher education
standing.
He outlined details of the
ground work that has already been done by AIT-Sri Lanka Satellite
Campus Task Force headed by Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, and the work of
various line ministries in Sri Lanka to complete the project proposal
in the near future.
Mr. Jayasinghe, Director,
AIT Fundraising Office, accompanied President Irandoust in meeting with
President Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka is one of AIT’s top markets, he said.
Approximately 5 percent of its more than 19,000 alumni originate from
the country, and 13 of its nationals recently graduated at AIT's
117th Graduation Ceremony.
Sri Lankan has recently seen
its growing middle class demand higher quality higher education.
AIT officials see the South Asian country’s growth as an opportunity
for both the institute and its host country Thailand.
Later, President Irandoust
attended a Business Forum on June 2 at the invitation of the Thai-Sri
Lanka Chamber of Commerce and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand, which
was also attended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Meeting with Mr.
Karunatilaka Amanugama, Secretary Ministry of External Affairs and
former Ambassador to Thailand and Vice Chair of the AIT Executive
Committee, he discussed the latest initiatives taken by AIT to explore
the expansion of its operations in the region, especially in Sri
Lanka.
From Left: Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, AIT President Prof. Said
Irandoust, HE Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri
Lanka, H.E.General Shantha Kottegoda, and Mr.Akram, Vice President
of the Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce.