Australian education ties seen shaping Sri Lanka’s future economy

This is a developing story brought to you by Aus News Lanka, your trusted source for news for Sri Lankans in Australia and beyond.

Australian education continues to be a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s development, helping shape the skilled workforce needed for its future economy.

Speaking in Colombo at the 10th Anniversary of the Monash College–UCL partnership, Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth highlighted education as one of the strongest and most trusted links between the two nations.

Each year, around 20,000 Sri Lankan students study in Australia, gaining world-class qualifications. Thousands more pursue Australian university programs locally through Transnational Education (TNE) partnerships like Monash–UCL — combining global exposure with local opportunity.

Since its launch in 2015, the Monash–UCL partnership has seen over 800 students transfer to Monash campuses in Australia and Malaysia, with more than 2,500 Sri Lankans graduating from Monash overall. Many now contribute to key sectors such as business, health, technology, and education in Sri Lanka.

High Commissioner Duckworth praised the outstanding academic standards at UCL, noting that its students “often outperform their peers in Australia.” Over 400 students have received Monash Global Awards of Excellence, underscoring the program’s success.

Monash College CEO Fabian Marrone described the partnership as a “blueprint for sustainable skills development in the Indo-Pacific,” while UCL Director Steven Enderby urged graduates to use their global knowledge to drive Sri Lanka’s next phase of growth.

Duckworth concluded that as Sri Lanka rebuilds, it will need globally minded leaders to guide its transformation — reaffirming Australia’s commitment to helping develop graduates who are globally capable and locally impactful.

More updates to come on AusNewsLanka.