More than 100 Sri Lankan students have been selected for higher education in Russia this year under the Russian State Scholarship Programme nearly doubling previous annual intake figures.

The expanded numbers come as Sri Lanka and Russia prepare to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027. The announcement and orientation for the 2026 cohort were highlighted during a special event held on September 25 at the Russian House in Colombo, where recipients received their official scholarship letters.

The scholarships span a broad spectrum of levels from vocational courses to Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes across various regions of the Russian Federation. Available fields cover medicine, engineering, IT, economics, international relations, tourism, architecture, science and the humanities.

Addressing the students, Embassy of the Russian Federation Counsellor and Russian Centre in Colombo Director Maria Popova congratulated the recipients and emphasized the significance of the upcoming milestone year.

“Russia has offered higher education opportunities at the best universities in Russia for students who have excelled in their education,” Popova said, encouraging them to use their acquired knowledge to contribute to Sri Lanka’s national development upon return and serve as cultural ambassadors.

The broader programme aims to deepen academic capacity and reinforce the enduring bilateral and people to people ties between Sri Lanka and Russia as they approach seven decades of diplomatic relations. (Eduwire)