THIMPHU, Bhutan — Sri Lanka and Bhutan have agreed to explore deeper cooperation in education and vocational training, including opportunities for Bhutanese students to study medicine, dentistry and allied health disciplines at universities in Sri Lanka.

The discussions took place during a bilateral meeting between Sri Lankan Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Bhutan’s Minister for Education and Skills Development, Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa, on September 3, 2026.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the inaugural Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026 in Bhutan, where Prime Minister Amarasuriya was leading a Sri Lankan delegation.

Sri Lanka and Bhutan plan education MoU

The two countries agreed to begin discussions towards the finalisation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in education and vocational training.

They also agreed to establish a Joint Working Group headed at Secretary level, with annual meetings to review progress, identify new areas of cooperation and support the implementation of agreed initiatives.

The proposed cooperation is expected to strengthen government-to-government engagement between Sri Lanka and Bhutan in the education sector.

Bhutanese students could study medicine in Sri Lanka

A key focus of the discussions was expanding opportunities for Bhutanese students to pursue higher education in Sri Lanka.

The two sides discussed opportunities for Bhutanese students to undertake undergraduate programmes at Sri Lankan universities, particularly in:

• Dentistry
• Medicine (MBBS)
• Physiotherapy
• Other allied health disciplines

The discussions also covered opportunities for postgraduate studies in medical and health sciences.

Sri Lanka and Bhutan further explored faculty and student exchange programmes, joint research, and stronger institutional partnerships between universities and other academic institutions.

The proposed initiatives could provide new opportunities for academic mobility and collaboration between higher education institutions in the two countries.

Prime Minister meets Bhutanese King

During her visit, Prime Minister Amarasuriya was granted a Royal Audience by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on September 2.

The Prime Minister conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the President, Government and people of Sri Lanka to the Bhutanese King. The two sides discussed the longstanding relationship between Sri Lanka and Bhutan and opportunities to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Education was among the areas highlighted during the Prime Minister’s broader engagements in Bhutan.

Focus on innovation and digital education

The Sri Lankan delegation also gained insights into Bhutan’s approach to innovation, technology and digital public services.

On September 4, Amarasuriya attended a presentation on the Bhutan Innovation Lab (BIL), a national innovation platform established under the Office of the Prime Minister of Bhutan in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The initiative connects government policy with entrepreneurs, innovators and other stakeholders to develop and implement new ideas.

The delegation discussed how similar innovation mechanisms could contribute to economic transformation, public-sector innovation and opportunities for young entrepreneurs and innovators.

The Prime Minister also attended a presentation on Bhutan National Digital Identity (Bhutan NDI), which provided an overview of the country’s digital identity framework and its role in delivering secure and citizen-focused digital services.

Sri Lankan delegation visits educational institutions

As part of the visit, Prime Minister Amarasuriya and the Sri Lankan delegation visited several sites of cultural, religious and educational importance, including the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law in Paro.

The engagements provided an opportunity to gain insights into Bhutan’s education, innovation and digital development initiatives.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya participated in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit from August 31 to September 4, 2026. She delivered the keynote address at the inaugural summit on September 1 under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”

Her participation also included discussions on sustainable food systems, food security, agriculture, women’s economic participation and sustainable development.

The education-focused discussions between Sri Lanka and Bhutan mark a potential expansion of bilateral cooperation, particularly in higher education, vocational training, medical education, research and student and faculty exchanges.