The development of the higher education sector is essential for the transition of Sri Lanka 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 decided to promote the higher education sector through the AHEAD (Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development) initiative, which will be funded by the World Bank.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) is in charge of implementation. The University Grants Commission (UGC) will oversee the operations of the universities. The MOEHE, UGC, and universities will collaborate to form an Operations Monitoring and Support Team (OMST) which will manage and support all AHEAD initiatives.

1. Expanding higher education enrollment, with a focus on study programs needed for an aspirant upper-middle-income economy
2. Extending and deepening contemporary teaching and learning methods that integrate academic excellence with high-quality socio-emotional skills
3. Fostering a robust research and innovation culture that can aid economic growth, particularly in higher-value industries and services

The AHEAD concept requested submissions of proposals from universities in Sri Lanka and the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Uva Wellassa University was one of the winning faculties. As a result, the Faculty of Applied Sciences was received Rs. 120,000,000.00 world bank grant on October 1, 2019.