Colombo: - Ambassador M. Ashraf Haidari met with the new Vice Chancellor of University of Colombo, Professor Chandrika Wijeyaratne, on June 11, 2019. They discussed the recently signed Cooperation MOU between Kabul University and the University of Colombo, whose of status implementation they reviewed and agreed that the two Universities should soon initiate student and faculty exchange programs, as well as joint research in their areas of mutual academic interest and concern. 

Ambassador Haidari also pointed out interest by other Afghanistan-based institutions of higher learning, like the American University of Afghanistan, to collaborate with the University of Colombo, enabling more undergraduate and graduate Afghan students to study in Sri Lanka on scholarships to be provided by public and private institutions, including the Sri Lankan and Afghan governments. 

Ambassador Haidari appreciated the support of HE President Maithripala Sirisena and HE Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for further expanding Afghanistan-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, especially through higher education, cultural cooperation and exchange, as well as business and investment.