As we all know, the higher education sector is vitally important to produce skilled and competent human resources needed to enable Sri Lanka to deliver basic human services effectively and efficiently to under-served areas, and to enhance economic performance and also make the transition from a low-income country to a middle-income country. Our country badly needs highly qualified professionals, scientists, technologists, managers and administrators to achieve this target. In this context, the scholarship program under the Human Resource Development Component of the HETC Project has the potential to contribute strongly to Sri Lanka’s human resource development, economic performance and social progress. It will assist to achieve the country's development objectives by enhancing and strengthening the quality of the teaching staff of higher education institutions.

The Universities would further benefit from their research capacities thus enhanced, and the improved linkages between local and foreign universities. In recognition of the major contribution that the HETC Project can make to the country, I trust that the University academics who receive scholarships today would utilize this opportunity to strengthen their capacity to add to the country's research base in a way that is most responsive to the needs of our country, thereby contributing towards the socio-economic enhancement of Sri Lanka.