India’s Manipal University which is active in 54 countries while catering to the education needs of over 26,000 students and Singapore’s Raffles University are reportedly set to establish their branches in Sri Lanka.

Authorities from these universities are already in discussion with the Ministry of Higher Education regarding this, said Ministry secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne while speaking to AdaderanaBiz.

Branches of these universities are to be established under the programme to establish foreign private universities in Sri Lanka.

“These two universities have had discussions to invest some US dollars 200 million. We have not reached a final decision yet. They are eying to establish these private universities in close proximity to the Katunayake international airport,” said the Higher Education Ministry secretary.

Sri Lanka Telecom too is planning to establish a private university. Meanwhile, the foundation stone was laid recently for the construction of a branch of the United Kingdom’s Central Lancashire University in the Gampaha area.