The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canberra, Yasoja Gunasekera met Chief Executive Officer, Luke Sheehy and Senior Director, Global Engagement and Policy, Dr. Angela Lehmann of Universities Australia to discuss potential areas of collaboration.
Universities Australia is the national voice for Australia’s universities and champions the vital role of higher education and research in solving big challenges and fostering cultural understanding in Australia and abroad. Their work spans policy and advocacy, partnerships with government and industry as well as collaborations with universities across the globe.
High Commissioner Gunasekera noted the popularity of Australia as a study destination for Sri Lankans. As of early 2026, over 18,000 Sri Lankan students are enrolled in Australian institutions, making Sri Lankans one of the largest groups of international students in the country. In fact, Sri Lanka is a top 10 source market for education export income for Australia. According to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Austrade, Sri Lanka continues to be a significant contributor to Australia’s international education sector, contributing approximately AUD $1.3 billion to the Australian economy in 2024–25. Further several Australian universities have a presence in Sri Lanka with Edith Cowan University and Curtin University having made significant investments in full Colombo campuses. The High Commissioner expressed interest in obtaining information of other universities that may be interested in investing in Sri Lanka.
Universities Australia expressed interest in collaborating with Sri Lanka in innovation and research collaboration.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
Canberra
07 May 2026
