Education in Sri Lanka is discussed as part of a series focusing on UNESCO's involvement in education in developing nations. The document is presented in four sections. Section I examines educational objectives since 1948 including literacy, extending basic education to all citizens, absorbing all schools into a state system, and establishing school farms. Section II analyzes plans of the Ministry of Education for implementing educational policies from 1978 to 1982. In addition, it indicates how much foreign aid is expected in various categories such as administration, teacher education, technical/vocational education, examinations, higher education, and educational research. Section III presents textual and tabular information on aid received from 1951 to 1976. In addition, problems are pointed out which interfered with educational development including lack of regional and national cooperation, lack of well defined national goals, and conflicts between donor policies and national priorities. The final section evaluates international cooperation in education in Sri Lanka since 1950 and concludes that educational development in developing nations will be facilitated if foreign nations and international organizations gear assistance to national educational policies and if they cooperate with national experts to plan and implement all educational programs. (DB)