Sri Lanka will soon see the establishment of numerous new educational institutions, both public and private, which provide youth with opportunities for higher education that meet global standards, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

The President made this statement during the inauguration of the Times School of Higher Education, at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.

“As our country advances toward an export-oriented economy and looks ahead to the mid-21st century, acquiring new knowledge becomes crucial. We will need more institutions like this one in the future. The Times Institute also features a digital academy, which will greatly benefit the youth of our nation,” President Wickremesinghe said speaking at the inauguration.

The President said that the government intends to allocate funds to support vocational training for 50,000 young people at accredited institutions.

The Times Institute of Higher Education, a subsidiary of Wijeya Newspapers Limited, has been set up to offer education aligned with international standards.

Working in collaboration with three foreign universities and higher education institutions, the Times School of Higher Education offers a diverse array of job-oriented courses, encompassing three main qualification categories: certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma courses.

The institute also provides professional skill development programs as well as undergraduate and postgraduate programs through its Digital Academy.

The institute’s activities will be overseen by a five-member advisory board, appointed by the Wijeya Newspapers Ltd, comprising experts in the field.

Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha, representatives from international educational institutions, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, David Pine, Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene, University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Director of Times School of Higher Education Janaka Rathnakumara and its academic staff, university lecturers and the Board of Directors of the Wijeya Newspapers were present at the event.