23/06/2026
Sri Lankan students who hold only Sri Lankan passports but grew up abroad are currently treated the same as foreign nationals when applying to Sri Lanka's state universities.
They face the same long odds, the same tiny quota (just 0.5% of intake!), and fees similar to foreign nationals as high as US$ 15,000 (5,000,000 Rs) per year for Medical, as an example, more expensive than universities in Georgia, Malaysia, or India.
The Sri Lankan Business & Professional Council (SLBPC), together with the Sri Lankan Coordination Committee (SLCC) and the Sri Lanka Community Benevolent Forum (SLCBF) here in Qatar, have submitted a formal proposal directly to His Excellency the President and the Honourable Prime Minister of Sri Lanka through HE Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar.
It was a carefully researched, respectful, and solutions-focused proposal signed by the presidents and secretaries of our three main community organisations.
The proposal includes concrete and fair reform.
✅ A dedicated 3% university quota for Sri Lankan expatriate children (currently, there is no such category)
✅ Fees reduced to just 25% of the current international rate.
✅ Full fee waivers for top-achieving students who excel in Cambridge, IB, AP, CBSE, or other international exams
✅ Guaranteed hostel accommodation so families can send their children safely
✅ Scholarship access (Mahapola/Bursary/SLBFE) for families who need support
✅ Clear, transparent eligibility criteria published by UGC.
These are rights backed by economic reality, constitutional principle, and basic fairness.
Whether your child is 10 or 17, whether you're in Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or anywhere else, this effort is for your family. A university seat in Sri Lanka could mean studying medicine in Colombo instead of spending triple the cost in Eastern Europe.
Share this post with every Sri Lankan family you know. Show your support; your voice adds weight to this effort.
With love and pride for our motherland.
Sri Lankan Business & Professional Council (SLBPC), Sri Lanka Coordination Committee (SLCC), Sri Lanka Community Benevolent Forum (SLCBF).
