The development of the higher education sector is of central importance to enable Sri Lanka to develop from a Lower-Middle Income Country (LMIC) to an Upper Middle-Income Country (UMIC). Recognizing this, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the World Bank have agreed, as part of the Bank’s Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) FY18-FY23, to support the higher education sector through a Bank-funded Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) operation

The implementing agency is the Ministry of Higher Education (MHE). The University Grants Commission (UGC) coordinates the activities of the universities. An Operations Monitoring and Support Team (OMST) coordinates and supports all AHEAD activities between the MHE, UGC, and the universities.