U.S.-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission Director Visits Wilson

Tissa Jayatilaka, executive director of the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, met with Wilson College President Barbara K. Mistick and other college officials today to discuss ways to renew the College’s ties with the island nation off the southern coast of India.

Wilson’s once-strong relationship with Sri Lanka, which regularly brought outstanding students here to study for their undergraduate degrees, has waned in recent years. It was the idea of Wilson alumna and Trustee Pamela Francis Kiehl ’66 and her husband, William – both of whom are former diplomats – to bring their friend, Jayatilaka, to campus to meet Mistick and discuss how Wilson can step up recruiting efforts in Sri Lanka.

After giving a brief tour of Wilson’s renovated library and state-of-the-art science center, Mistick hosted a working lunch with representatives from academic affairs, student development and admissions, who brainstormed ways the College can reach out to Sri Lankan high school students.

Wilson has a strong international student population and is committed to admitting students from all parts of the world, according to Mistick. “International students benefit us as much as we benefit them,” she told Jayatilaka. “It does make our campus richer.”

With only 14 universities in Sri Lanka, it is difficult for students to get into those institutions, which makes U.S. colleges attractive – providing they are affordable and/or financial aid and scholarships are available, Jayatilaka said. “Money is a problem for the generality of Sri Lanka,” he said, adding that in that country, nine of 10 college students’ education is financed by parents rather than through student loans.

Jayatilaka, who said his organization can help direct students to Wilson College in a variety of ways, also suggested the possible creation of a semester-abroad program that would send Wilson students to Sri Lanka. The group discussed getting Sri Lankan Wilson graduates involved by speaking about their Wilson experiences in their home country, as well as helping the college admissions team contact select high schools in Sri Lanka.

The meeting ended with a promise from Jayatilaka and Wilson officials to work together to strengthen connections between Sri Lanka and the College.