Bangkok--18 Aug--AIT
Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Gitanjana Gunawardena, visited the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on 16 August 2011, and assured the Institute of continuous support from the Government of Sri Lanka. The Minister stated that the Government is keen that AIT should establish a campus in Sri Lanka under the AIT brand name.
The Minister while interacting with the AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust, remarked that the Government is actively considering the request for financial support to AIT. He added that the Government of Sri Lanka is seized with the issue of allotment of land to AIT, and a formal agreement would emerge very soon. “The land allotment has been agreed in principle and the Honorable President of Sri Lanka is taking personal interest in this matter,” the Minister added.
Prof. Said Irandoust, President, AIT, while welcoming the Minister, informed him of AIT’s latest initiatives. He appreciated the role played by the Honorable Minister is supporting AIT in all its ventures. The President remarked that AIT is seeking investment from both local and international partners. “AIT is committed towards the offer of demand oriented educational offerings and ensure capacity building in the region,” he said. The President added that AIT is committed to maintaining quality control in all programs being offered under the AIT brand.
The Minister also inquired about other capacity building and training initiatives of AIT, and expressed his interest in AIT’s expertise in offering training programs. The Minister also visited AIT Consulting, and met the Executive Director of AIT Consulting, Dr. Naveed Anwar, where he was impressed with the range of private sector infrastructure projects. “There are many infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, which include roads, bridges and highways, apart from project management ventures; which may be of interest to AIT,” the Minister added. The Minister was accompanied by his son, Mr. Yasoja Gunawardena, who evinced keen interest in AIT’s expertise in structural engineering. The Minister was guided to AIT Consulting by Ms. Kate Hovey, Operations and Marketing Manager, and Mr. Justin Arnold Finch, Project Proposal Writer, AIT Consulting.
Later, the Minister also met Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Vice President for Resource Development. He also had a meeting with students, faculty and staff from Sri Lanka. During the meetings, AIT was also represented by Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Director, Fundraising, and Mr. Syed Muntasir Husain Bokhari, Program Officer.
Photo caption: Prof. Said Irandoust (left) and H.E. Mr. Gitanjana Gunawardena