The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, held bilateral discussions with Rt Hon. Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education of the United Kingdom, on 20th May 2026, during her official visit to the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom and other officials from the Sri Lanka High Commission in London.
The meeting emphasised the importance of sustaining meaningful institutional partnerships, enhancing quality assurance in higher education, and expanding opportunities for students and educators. Both sides reaffirmed the long-standing and historic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom in education and expressed interest in further deepening collaboration in student mobility, joint programmes, and research.
The Prime Minister appreciated existing UK-supported initiatives, such as the Chevening Scholarships and Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme, noting their significant contribution to capacity building in Sri Lanka and their role in fostering long-term people-to-people linkages.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Amarasuriya also outlined Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the higher education system through improved regulatory frameworks and enhanced quality assurance mechanisms. The UK side shared relevant experience and best practices in maintaining academic standards and safeguarding student interests.
The discussion further covered broad education reform initiatives in Sri Lanka and the strengthening of vocational education pathways. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue strengthening education cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister’s Media Division