Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang (C) and D. C. Dissanayake (L), secretary of the Sri Lankan Higher Education and Highways Ministry award a student in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, July 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Ajith Perera)

COLOMBO, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen Sri Lankan students will go to China to further their studies after being awarded Chinese Government Scholarships, a Sri Lankan official said on Thursday in Colombo.

The 15 students, selected from some 1,000 applicants, have been nominated to receive the postgraduate or undergraduate scholarships, in the fields of science, arts, management, medicine and engineering, D. C. Dissanayake, secretary of the Sri Lankan Higher Education & Highways Ministry, said in a speech introducing the general situation of the scholarship, after awarding the scholarships to the students at a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka.

According to Dissanayake, these students will spend over five years in China on average in Peking University, Zhejiang University and others.

"I would like to mention here that the selection process was done in a fair and transparent way and the selected candidates are the most suitable and qualified people among the applicants," said Dissanayake.

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang also attended the ceremony and jointly awarded scholarships to the students. China will extend full support to Sri Lanka in all fields including education, Yi said.

"The 15 of you are a team of ambassadors, a diplomatic corps in China. You will promote friendship and cooperation between the two sides," Yi said at the ceremony.

Fifteen students awarded Chinese Government Scholarships take a group photo with Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang (2nd R, front) and D. C. Dissanayake (2nd L, front), secretary of the Sri Lankan Higher Education and Highways Ministry in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, July 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Ajith Perera)