Ten Sri Lankan students awarded Commonwealth Scholarships

Ten outstanding Sri Lankan students have been awarded Commonwealth Scholarships to pursue their postgraduate studies in the UK this year, joining a distinguished global network of future leaders dedicated to driving positive national and global impact.

A Pre-Departure Briefing held at the British Council Library in Colombo gathered scholarship awardees, alumni, and key officials from the British High Commission and British Council to honour the chosen scholars and also create a space for connection, mentoring, and collective pride in a shared legacy.

“The Commonwealth Scholarship is one of the UK’s most prestigious and long-standing development initiatives,” said British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick. “For over six decades, it has supported outstanding individuals from Sri Lanka to access world-class education in the UK and return to contribute to their country’s progress.”

This year’s scholars include: Dilisha Sarathchandra, - MSc in Applied Economics at the University of Strathclyde ,Dushani Poornima Abeykoon - MSc in Sustainability Transitions at the University of Aberdeen, Varangana Ratwatte - MSc in Energy Policy and Finance at the University of St Andrews, Rashmi Gandhari Hettiarachchin - MSc in Migration, Mobility & Development at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, Amritha Gunawardena Mudunkotuwage - MSc in Climate Change Science and Policy at the University of Bristol, Hasitha Boyagoda -MSc in Business Analytics at the University of Warwick, Kavithanjali Uthayashangar -MSc in Environmental Engineering at Cranfield University, Renushi Ubeyratna – MA in Power, Participation and Social Change at the University of Sussex, Sandeep Chamodya - MSc in Education at the University of Southampton and Pamoda Jayasundara, the sole recipient of a Commonwealth PhD Scholarship from Sri Lanka this year, set to undertake doctoral research in the UK on Global Animal Law.