A programme to recognize students who demonstrated exceptional performance at the 2023/2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination at the district level has been launched by the President’s Fund. Accordingly, the felicitation of outstanding students from the Northern Province who excelled at the 2023 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination was held recently (22) at the Nelum Piyasa Auditorium in Iranamadu, under the patronage of the Hon. Speaker, (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne.
At this event, 60 students, 10 from each subject stream from the districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, and Vavuniya who obtained top results at the 2023 A/L Examination were awarded a grant of Rs. 100,000 each. A total of 300 students received this financial incentive. The President’s Fund allocated a sum of Rs. 30 million for this initiative. It is planned to implement this programme in the future to cover all districts island-wide.
Addressing the ceremonial gathering, the Hon. Speaker stated that although the President’s Fund has served the public since its establishment in 1978, there had been shortcomings in its efficiency and transparency over the past 47 years. He further emphasized that after the present government came into power, steps were taken to address these issues by decentralizing its administration to the Divisional Secretariat level, thereby enabling any citizen living anywhere in the country to easily access the assistance provided by the fund.
Accordingly, at present, the President’s Fund, which is funded by the people of the country, offers Rs. 50,000 for outstanding students who pass the Ordinary Level examination, Rs. 1,800 million for Mahapola scholarships, assistance to children who lose their parents due to human-elephant conflict, and financial support for children with talents in sports, music, and dance. The Hon. Speaker noted that the services of the President’s Fund have been increasingly expanded and directed towards the development of the people of the country.
The Hon. Speaker further emphasized that Sri Lanka’s identity has been built on the cultural diversity visible at this event and that it is the responsibility of the future generation who are ready to take on the country’s leadership to preserve this coexistence and unique identity in building the Sri Lankan nation.
Hon. Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, President’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Governor of the Northern Province Nagalingam Vethanayahan, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development Upali Samarasingha, Members of Parliament K. Ilankumaran, Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy, and M. Jagadeeswaran, along with Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the President’s Fund Mr. Roshan Gamage, senior officers of the President’s Fund, government officials, heads of security forces, parents, and students were present at this occasion.
