The Island newspaper reported on Friday that Chinese ambassador Qi Zhenhong handed over the money to University Vice Chancellor Professor S Srisatkunarajah in Colombo.

The scholarship, which amounts to Rs 5,000 rupees per month per person, will help support these students from underprivileged families for an academic year.

The Chinese envoy emphasized that China-Sri Lanka friendship was also deeply rooted in the northern districts of the island nation where Tamils form an overwhelming majority.

(With UNI inputs)