'Festival of Australia' stresses importance of higher education and agribusiness in Aust.-SL ties

Australia’s deepening commitment to Sri Lanka’s education and agribusiness sectors was on full display at the ‘Festival of Australia’ held at ‘Cinnamon Life’ in Colombo on Sunday. The event, which attracted over a thousand participants, showcased the strength of bilateral ties in two of the most strategic areas for both countries: higher education and food and beverage trade.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

Vik Singh, Australia’s Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, who was in Colombo for the event, told The Island Financial Review that Sri Lanka remains “a very, very important market” for Australia. “The Festival of Australia really celebrates the relationship between our two countries, he said. “We are focusing especially on our flagship sectors: education and agribusiness.”

Organised under the banner of strengthening bilateral engagement, the festival brought together representatives from 29 Australian universities and institutions, providing prospective students and their families with access to education pathways, scholarship options, and employment prospects in Australia and within Sri Lanka.

“We're seeing a shift, Singh explained. “Traditionally, South Asian students leaned heavily towards engineering, IT, or postgraduate business. But now, more are exploring psychology, journalism, architecture, sports science, AI, and cybersecurity. This diversification is key.”