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Dr Nawarathna was not able to give a timeframe when it would be submitted to Parliament.

“The increase in number of foreign students is in line with Government plans to make Sri Lanka the Education Hub of Asia,” said Dr Nawarathna.

Majority of the foreign students are from the Maldives. Last year, close to 1,500 student visas were granted, while over 2,000 more obtained visa extensions.

Sri Lanka has become a preferred destination for students coming from Myanmar as well, according to Immigration & Emigration records, while an increasing number of students from the Republic of Korea also come to Sri Lanka for their higher education.

According to Dr Nawarathna, a growing number of students are making use of the 5% quota reserved for them in State universities, while other private universities such as saitm are also attracting foreign students.

“The most popular course is Medicine. Engineering Degrees offered by private institutes also attract foreign students,” he said.

Management courses offered by international professional bodies such as CIMA and State universities such as Sri Jayawardenapura and Colombo, along with Degrees in Agriculture and Dental Science, are also preferred options for foreign students, said Dr Nawarathna.