I. What is the India-Sri Lanka Foundation?

The India-Sri Lanka Foundation is a trust fund setup by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka which finances projects aimed at furthering all aspects of India-Sri Lanka cooperation.

The Foundation was established on December 28, 1998 by a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka, with the objective of fostering Indo-Sri Lanka relations through the enhancement of economic, scientific, educational, technical and cultural cooperation and the promotion of greater understanding between the peoples of the two countries.



The following comprise the thrust areas identified by the Foundation for promoting understanding and cooperation:
• education and culture
• archaeological studies
• agricultural research
• science and technology
• health
• technical training
• development studies
• women’s studies
 

  The Foundation is financed through revenues (interest earned) from a Trust Fund set up with grants made available by the two Governments. Each country has contributed an equal share of the corpus of the Foundation in their respective currencies.

As per the guidelines laid down in the MOU, the revenues from the Fund are used for funding the following activities:

i)

 financing higher studies, research and other educational activities at institutions of learning located in India and Sri Lanka
ii)

 financing visits and exchange of scholars, academics, professionals, artists and experts involved in areas of activity covered by the Foundation
iii)
 assisting/financing activities such as seminars, symposia, workshops on subjects of common interest
iv)

 extending financial support to NGOs in India and Sri Lanka whose work facilitates achievement of the objectives of the Foundation
v)
 contributing towards the publication of standard works on India-Sri Lanka Relations in specified fields
vi)

 encouraging translation of standard works of Sri Lankan literature into Indian languages and vice versa and arranging for their publication
vii)

 adopting any other measure which may be considered necessary for the fulfilment of the objectives of the Foundation.