As an Overseas Sri Lankan expert/professional, you can engage with us on Skills development, sharing Technology and Research know-how, Education exchanges or enhancing upward mobility of youth.
The Government is well aware of the wealth of knowledge and skills that Overseas Sri Lankans (OSLs) possess, as well as the outstanding contributions they have been providing to their respective host nations and communities. The majority of these specialists have been volunteering their time and knowledge for various projects and activities. Making these individualized efforts more predictable and mutually beneficial is one of the top aims of the Office for Overseas Sri Lankans (OOSLA).
While the OSLs will gain the satisfaction of serving their motherland, Sri Lanka will be able to harness the broad spectrum of intellectual capacities and capabilities of the OSLS for the socio-economic wellbeing of the fellow Sri Lankans. This two-way engagement will be recognized by the GoSL as an integral part of its journey to emerge as a knowledge hub in Asia.
The OOSLA will be able to direct OSL professionals seeking to serve as trainers or resource people in their respective professions for a predetermined time period toward the right beneficiaries. Experts who are interested are asked to submit a brief profile outlining their qualifications and areas of expertise. OOSLA will then communicate with the local counterparts and arrange for a ‘brain gain’ agreement that will benefit Sri Lanka.
Also, if you wish to invest in setting up of a Vocational Training Institute in Sri Lanka, or support an existing one under the GoSL, the OOSLA will be able to facilitate the coordination for you. The guidelines can be read here.
You’ve come to the correct place if you’re an expert in science, technology, research, or innovation who wants to collaborate with a local agency that shares your interests in order to help the GoSL’s efforts to improve its capabilities in these areas. We want to make it easier for you to connect with your home country. This is a list of institutions that is not all-inclusive;
NSF : National Science Foundation with 50 years of dedicated service to the development and promotion of Science and Technology in Sri Lanka, provides a variety of services to the scientific community, both local and overseas, including, but not limited to R&D support, data and statistics, A knowledge repository, S&T information management system, Research publication support etc. ( Find more)
NIA: National Innovation Agency is a flexible and comprehensive National ICT Platform for coordination and Monitoring of all activities related to Science, Technology and Innovation across 17 ministries and more than 70 institutions. (Find more )
NIPO: National Intellectual Property Office: Established by Property Act No 36 of 2003 is the key Agency mandated with the administration of the intellectual Property System in Sri Lanka, and functions under the Ministry of Trade. If you are interested in getting any of your products registered for trademarks, copy rights or patents connect with NIPO.
ACCIMT : Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies functioning within the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, is mandated with accelerating introduction of modern technologies in the fields of Electronics, Communications, Information Technology, Robotics and Space Technologies. More
NARA : National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, established by NARA Act of No. 54 of 1981, is the apex national statutory body responsible for carrying out and coordinating research, development and management activities on aquatic resources in Sri Lanka. More
SLINTEC : Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology is the first public-private research institute in Sri Lanka and is the pioneer in nano and advanced technology research in the country. Primary research areas involve; Energy Storage, Nano/Advanced Materials and Minerals, Printable Electronic and Sensors, Natural Products and Nutraceuticals, Sustainable and Functional Textiles, Advanced Agricultural Technology, Graphite/Graphene Initiatives. ( More).
SLIBTEC: Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology Pvt. Ltd, incorporated as a Government-owned company, on 12 October 2020 with the Secretary to the Treasury being the sole shareholder. The prime objective of SLIBTEC Pvt Ltd is to facilitate a state-of-the-art research and innovation ecosystem in Sri Lanka to support the development of biotech industries for local and export market. For investment opportunities see more.
GJRTI: Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute (GJRTI), established in July 1995, under Section 25 (1) of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority Act, provides Research and training services for the promotion and sustainable development of the Gem and Jewellery Industry. It conducts training courses in Gemology ( More) .
The National Registry of Scientific equipment: The National Registry will help you have easy access to information on advance scientific equipment available to the universities and R&D institutes. Check for relevant instruments here.
Enrolling to a Local University for an undergraduate degree:
If you are a OSL student who have obtained G.C.E Advanced Level equivalent exam in one sitting, at the exam held outside Sri Lanka, and is interested in enrolling for a programme in one of the public universities in Sri Lanka, opportunities are available for admission to undergraduate courses in sixteen (16) National Universities, two (2) Campuses and four (04) Institutes.
The programmes include Medicine, Engineering, Arts, Biological Sciences, and Humanities etc. For further details on application process, fee for administration, tuition, practical /field work are published by the University Grant Commission. The guide for 2021/22 is available at https://www.ugc.ac.lk/attachments/2407_Foreign%20Admissions%20Handbook%20Final_03%2010%202022.pdf
If you have earned a degree from a foreign university and wish to get recognition in Sri Lanka, you can check the status from here
You can get information from registered education consultants, University Grants Commission or respective affiliated institutions licensed in Sri Lanka. Also, check if the university you intend to get enrolment is a recognized university by UGC.
In certain countries students are allowed to undertake limited hours of work, so be sure if it is legally allowed.
Ensure that the Higher Education institution is an accredited institution and you can check this information via the UGC. You may make inquiries from the respective diplomatic missions based in Colombo as well.
You can get information from the Department of Examination who is responsible for issuing the certificates and it will be submitted directly to the Consular division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for attestation. This may take several working days. Please see following links:
First apply to the Department of Examination for the validated certificates. It can be done online via : https://certificate.doenets.lk/
The validated certificates are directly transmitted to the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for attestation, and you will be issued a reference number, Reserve your appointment at MFA to collect the authenticated certificates. More information can be accessed at
https://mfa.gov.lk/certificates-issued-by-the-department-of-examinations
Yes, it is possible to obtain a certificate for your skills and prior learning (Recognition of Prior Learning : RPL)- achieved through non-institutional or informal learning, You will be required to provide following supporting evidence when applying for a NVQ through the RPL process;
Supportive evidences to get NVQ through RPL
For registration : https://nvq.gov.lk/e_rpl_external/erpl_ext_index.php
An aggrieved emigrant can file his complaint with the Sri Lankan Mission/Post in the country of residence on telephone or through e-mail. Also, furnish the details as pr the information given in the link : http://www.slbfe.lk/page.php?LID=1&MID=38
Please register your offer with OOSLA@presidentsoffice.gov.lk, and we will be contacting you with information.
Detailed guidelines: click here