In an effort to strengthen bilateral ties between the United States and Sri Lanka through educational exchanges, under the guidance of H.E. Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe, this Mission continues to promote and seek the interest of Universities in the United States in establishing feasible collaborations with renowned Universities and higher educational entities in Sri Lanka.

In December 2023, a discussion took place between this Mission and Dr. Costas Tsatsoulis, Vice Chancellor for Research & Dean of the Graduate School, and Dr. Karen Jones, Associate Dean and Director of the Graduate School of Southern Illinois University (SIU), which resulted in SIU expressing its interest in collaborating with educational entities in Sri Lanka. A subsequent formal proposition by SIU was shared with renowned public and private educational entities in Sri Lanka, enabling an opportunity for all. As a result, among others, NSBM Green University in Sri Lanka expressed its interest to discuss the proposition further which ultimately led to the successful finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SIU and NSBM Green University on 26 March 2024.

Subsequent to the signing of the MOU, a visit was undertaken on 12 April 2024 to SIU in Carbondale, Illinois, United States, by the Minister of Education. Hon. (Dr.) Susil Premajayantha along with Prof. E.A. Weerasinghe, Vice Chancellor of NSBM, and other officials to discuss further collaboration in the areas of research, exchange of knowledge, and faculty/student exchange collaborations.

It is worth noting that the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SIU. Furthermore, educational institutions in Sri Lanka, including Moratuwa University, Open University of Sri Lanka, and Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies (NIIBS), are presently in the process of finalizing their respective MoUs.

On 25 April 2024, H.E. the Ambassador and other officials of this Mission met with Dr Costas Tsatsoulis, Vice Chancellor for Research & Dean of the Graduate School of SIU at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington to express their earnest appreciation and gratitude to SIU in paving way for a world of opportunities for Sri Lankan students, faculty and researchers alike.

First chartered in 1869, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU or SIUC) is a public research University in Carbondale, Illinois., United States. Originally founded as a normal college (a school for teachers), it was granted University status in 1943, and started offering graduate degrees in 1950. SIUC is ranked in the top 5% of US Universities based on the Carnegie classification (the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education). SIU is classified as a High Research Activity – a Doctoral University, that receives a substantial amount of funds annually for research, training, and service-based grants and contracts.

Embassy of Sri Lanka.,

Washington D.C., United States

25 April, 2024