The Government of Japan has provided a grant aid worth approximately Rs.488 million for the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) project to enhance the capacity building of public sector officials.
The sum of Japanese Yen 271 million (approximately Rs.488 million) grant will be extended to train young executive officers in the public sector at various universities in Japan and develop their skills in order to qualify them as future national leaders in their respective fields.
Under the project, 17 public sector officials will be sent to pursue a 2-year Master or PhD degree from 2022 to 2024. Areas of their degrees cover Public Policy, Public Finance, Economics, Business Management, Environmental Management, Disaster Management and Climate Change.
The Exchange of Notes for this project was signed on 29th July 2021 at the Ministry of Finance between H.E. SUGIYAMA Akira, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka and Mr. S R Attygalle, Secretary, Ministry of Finance.
As a long-standing friend, Japan has placed great emphasis on assistance in human resource development via many capacity building and skills development programs in order to accelerate long-term sustainable economic development.
Since its inception in 2010, the JDS project has supported 171 public sector officials in Sri Lanka. The project will contribute not only to enhancing individual capacities but also to improving the institutional capacity of the public sector in Sri Lanka, which is the foundation for the prosperity and further development of Sri Lanka.
JDS fellows are also expected to solidify foundations to further bilateral relations with Japan by utilizing their human network developed through academic and social activities while in Japan.