KANDY, Sept. 14 – In a landmark initiative to strengthen the nation’s future, 361 outstanding students from the Central Province who excelled at the 2023/2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination were each awarded scholarships worth Rs. 100,000, with a total disbursement of Rs. 36.1 million through the President’s Fund.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, addressing the ceremony at the Kandy District Secretariat Auditorium, declared that the Government has finally redirected the President’s Fund to its rightful purpose.
“In the past, privileged groups misused the President’s Fund. Today, we have restored it to deliver directly to citizens, reaching even the most remote villages,” she said.
Investing in Knowledge and Human Capital
The scholarships were presented to students from Kandy, Matale, and Nuwara Eliya, who excelled across six subject streams. Prime Minister Amarasuriya emphasized that the Fund’s scope now extends beyond medical assistance to include education, ensuring that Sri Lanka cultivates a well-prepared, knowledgeable generation.
She further revealed that the Government is preparing to launch new educational reforms designed to produce versatile human resources with exposure to multiple fields, enabling children to break free from outdated frameworks and pursue their dreams.
Human Resource Development: The Nation’s Greatest Asset
Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, addressing the gathering, stressed that the development of human resources is the most reliable pathway to national success. He underscored the Government’s responsibility to guide the younger generation productively and praised the President’s Fund for its pivotal role in this mission.
“Nothing in the world guarantees success as much as developing human resources,” he remarked, adding that no obstacle could derail Sri Lanka’s progress once its youth are properly nurtured.
Expanding the Reach of the President’s Fund
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, Members of Parliament, senior officials of the President’s Fund, and education leaders from across the Central Province.
Meanwhile, on 13 September, a special one-day training workshop was held for subject officers at the Kandy District Secretariat. The workshop aimed to decentralise the President’s Fund’s functions, introduce modern digital systems, and train officers to deliver services more efficiently, thereby ensuring more beneficiaries gain access to the Fund in the future.
A Promise for the Future
Through this initiative, the President’s Fund has taken a decisive step towards building a disciplined, educated, and forward-looking generation. For the 361 scholarship recipients, this support represents not just financial relief but also the recognition of their potential as the future leaders of Sri Lanka.
