Chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor Gamini Samaranayake says academic activities of the South Asian University will start in August next year.
The University is to be set up in joint collaboration of countries in the region, according to a proposal presented by the Indian President at the recent summit of heads of state of SAARC leaders.
A one hundred acre plot has already being reserved in New Delhi, India, for this purpose.
Professor Samaranayake added two hundred more Sri Lankans will be accorded the opportunity to pursue studies in India with setting up of this university.
The Chairman further said higher education ministers in the SAARC region has acceded to his request to conduct their conference in Colombo shortly.