The Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) Programme was introduced to Sri Lanka in 2010 by the Government of Japan in order to provide opportunities to the executive level public sector officials to undergo Master Degree Programmes in prominent universities in Japan.
Accordingly, the First Framework (2010-2013), the Second Framework (2014-2017) and the Third Framework (2018–2021) of this programme were successfully completed in 2013, 2017 and 2021 respectively. The Fourth Framework (2022 –2025), started in 2022 and will end in 2025. In view of ensuring further career development of JDS fellows, the Government of Japan has agreed to offer scholarships for PhD programmes, at most 2 slots per batch. Accordingly, altogether 195 (15 per year) opportunities for Master Degree Programmes and 10 opportunities for PhD programmes have already been provided under this scholarship programme.
The selection process of the first batch under the Fourth Framework has already been completed and the selected officials are scheduled to commence their studies in September 2022. The Government of Japan, since 2010, has been providing necessary grant funds for the expenditure of the JDS programme annually and accordingly, in 2022 also, a grant assistance of Japanese Yen 282 million (approximately Rs. 761 million according to current exchange rate) has been offered to Sri Lanka.
The Government of Sri Lanka expects that the public officers, who will be benefited under this programme, will contribute to the socio economic development of the country in a productive manner with self–confidence, and also contribute to strengthen the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries
An Exchange of Note between the two Governments, and Grant Agreements between the Government of Sri Lanka and the JICA for the implementation of this programme were signed on 08th August 2022 at the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies. K M M Siriwardana, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, Mr. MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka on behalf of the Government of Japan and Mr. YAMADA Tetsuya, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency on behalf of the Government of Japan signed the relevant documents.
