Joint press release by the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Washington D.C., and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, United States

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Recent agreements between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and higher education institutions in Sri Lanka have created opportunities for students and strengthened ties between the United States and Sri Lanka.

 A Sri Lankan delegation, led by Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe, conducted an in-person discussion in December 2023 with officials from SIU. The talks centered on potential collaborations between SIU and higher education institutions in Sri Lanka, aiming to create a window to advance valuable opportunities for Sri Lankan students.

Following a positive dialogue and a formal proposal from SIU, the Sri Lankan embassy actively shared the opportunity with renowned public and private educational institutions across the country. As a result, several memoranda of understanding (MOUs) have been signed throughout the year.

“This marked a significant step in fostering educational partnerships between the U.S. and Sri Lanka via a single distinguished institution like SIU,” Samarasinghe said.

Forging international ties fits well with SIU’s strategic plan, Imagine 2030, and its pillars of student success and diversity, equity and inclusion, said Costas Tsatsoulis, vice chancellor for research and dean of the Graduate School.

“International students, including students from Sri Lanka, enrich our campus,” Tsatsoulis said. “We look forward to seeing more Sri Lankans on our campus, and we are glad to provide them with hands-on opportunities at a Midwestern doctoral research university with a proud history of top-level teaching.”

Notably, NSBM Green University finalized its MOU with SIU in March 2024. This was soon followed by agreements with the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM), the Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies (NIIBS), and the recent finalization with Horizon Campus, further solidifying the commitment to collaboration in higher education. With additional MOUs in progress between SIU and institutions such as the University of Moratuwa and the Open University of Sri Lanka, we believe this initiative highlights our shared commitment to advancing academic excellence and international cooperation.

“These MOUs pave the way for a brighter future for students in Sri Lanka,” Samarasinghe said. “We hope SIU’s initiative will inspire further collaboration between institutions in the U.S. and Sri Lanka, and we extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to SIU Carbondale and its officials — Costas Tsatsoulis and Karen Jones, associate dean and director of the Graduate School, and Peter Li, director of the center for international education— for their unwavering efforts and commitment.”

First chartered in 1869 a normal college (a school for teachers), Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a U.S. public research university. SIU Carbondale is ranked in the top 5% for research among all U.S. higher education institutions, and it is designated by the Carnegie Classification for Institutions of Higher Education as a doctoral university with high research activity – an institution that receives a substantial amount of external funds annually for research, training and service-based grants and contracts.

Media Contacts: For SIU Carbondale, Kim Rendfeld, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 765-426-3650 (cell)

Embassy of Sri Lanka,                                                                                    Southern Illinois University

Washington, D.C.                                                                                            Carbondale

05 November 2024