French Ambassador and Sciences Po Delegation Visit the University of Colombo
His Excellency Mr Rémi Lambert, Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka, visited the University of Colombo on 24th July 2025, accompanied by a distinguished delegation from Sciences Po, one of France’s most prestigious universities, globally ranked among the top five in the fields of political science and international studies. A comprehensive discussion was held with Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, focusing on the forthcoming signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University and Sciences Po.
The main focus of the collaboration will be student exchange, offering valuable international exposure and academic mobility for undergraduates and postgraduates. This marks the first-ever partnership between a leading French university and the University of Colombo, a significant milestone in the University’s internationalisation efforts.
Other key areas of collaboration discussed included faculty exchange, joint research publications, grant partnerships, and executive education programmes. The French Embassy expressed its appreciation for the Vice Chancellor’s commitment to fostering international academic ties and pledged its continued support for expanding collaboration with other French higher education institutions for the benefit of students and staff alike.
The Sciences Po delegation included Professor Christophe Jaffrelot, Senior Researcher at the Centre for International Studies and Director of the South Asia Program, and Mr Alexandre Mariani, Co-Director of the South Asia Program. Representing the French Embassy were Mrs Marie-Noëlle Duris, Deputy Head of Mission, and Ms Anaïs Delbarre, Attaché for Academic and Scientific Cooperation. From the University of Colombo, Professor Gameela Samarasinghe (Department of Sociology) and Dr Iroja Caldera (Director of the International Office) also participated in the discussions.
