Governor of South Australia visits Gateway College
View(s):Gateway College Colombo had the distinct honour of hosting Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, on Sunday, 22nd June 2025, during her official visit to Sri Lanka. The Governor was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior representatives from South Australia’s government, diplomatic service, trade and investment agencies, and higher education institutions.
The visit celebrated the strengthening educational ties between South Australia and Sri Lanka, particularly through Gateway’s successful delivery of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and its close partnership with the Flinders University, South Australia.
The formal proceedings began with a ceremonial escort by the Gateway College Colombo Band, followed by the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Australia, performed by the school choir. In his welcome address, Dr. Harsha Alles, Chairman of the Gateway Group, highlighted Gateway’s vision of creating globally connected learners and acknowledged the growing opportunities for Sri Lankan students to access world-class education in Australia.
The event featured two thought-provoking student panel discussions. The first, moderated by Ms. Christina Sivasambu, Head of SACE at Gateway Colombo, brought together students from Gateway’s campuses in Colombo, Negombo, and Kandy. They shared insights on how the SACE programme has empowered them to think critically, communicate globally, and prepare for international university life.
The second panel, moderated by Professor Ananda Jayawardena, Vice Chancellor of Gateway Graduate School, featured undergraduate students pursuing higher education pathways in teaching. Several of the panellists shared their aspirations to continue their studies at Flinders University, whose senior leadership, Professor Romy Lawson, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Mr. Bill Damachis, Director of International Partnerships, were present at the event and warmly engaged with the students and faculty.
In addressing the gathering, Her Excellency Frances Adamson praised Gateway’s commitment to academic excellence and cross-border collaboration. She spoke passionately about the importance of educational partnerships in deepening the people-to-people links between Australia and Sri Lanka and encouraged students to continue embracing international perspectives in their learning journeys.
Also in attendance was His Excellency Paul Stephens, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, who has played a key role in fostering bilateral educational initiatives and strengthening institutional relationships. His presence underscored the shared commitment between the two nations to support innovation, mobility, and opportunity in education.
This distinguished visit reaffirmed Gateway College’s reputation as a pioneering institution in international education and highlighted the continued value of collaboration between Sri Lankan schools and Australian universities.
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