Minister proposes to set up Transport University at Ratmalana

Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, who is on an official visit to Russia and Belarus, engaged in observational visits to the universities in those countries which award degrees in the field of transport. 

The minister exchanged views with the university authorities in Russia and Belarus on the possibility of establishing a Transport University in Sri Lanka at the Sri Lanka German Railway Technical Training Centre in Ratmalana jointly with the Transport Universities in the two countries.

Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena emphasized that this will provide an opportunity for students from Sri Lanka to pursue higher education, as well as students from other South Asian countries such as Maldives and Nepal, to study degree courses in the field of transportation.

The vice chancellors of the Russian and Belarus transport universities, educational authorities, Sri Lankan ambassador to the Russian Federation Janitha A. Liyanage and other diplomatic representatives attended the event. The university authorities pointed out that a large number of local and foreign students are studying transportation-related degree courses in the transport universities of the two countries.

Accordingly, in the discussion held with the authorities including the Vice-Chancellor of the Russian University of Transport (MIIT), Alexander Klimov, attention was focused on upgrading the Sri Lanka German Railway Technical Training Center, academic exchanges, scientific research, online lectures and training opportunities for experts in Sri Lanka’s transport industry.

It was also agreed to establish a bilateral committee represented by both parties to deal with cooperation in the field of motor vehicle education.