Professor Wasantha Athukorala of Peradeniya University’s Department of Economics and Statistical Studies told ‘Mawrata’ that it has been revealed that the amount of money allocated to scholarships and bursaries for university students has been reduced by 19% from 2020 to 2023. (Sri Lanka Latest News)
He also mentioned that written information has been obtained from a responsible government department.
He mentioned that 2,125 million rupees were allocated for that in 2020 and it has been reduced to 2,000 million rupees in 2021, 1,825 million rupees in 2022 and 1,725 million rupees in 2023.
Due to this, it is reported that the students of the universities are not getting their scholarships and bursaries properly.
It is also stated that those students will not receive the bursary for a period of three to four months.
It is reported that the students are in a severe economic crisis and discomfort because the money received from Mahapola and bursaries is not being received properly in a situation where students’ book purchase and transportation expenses have increased due to the prevailing severe inflation. It is said that it is difficult for them to ask for the necessary money from their homes and even to carry out the examinations.
It is said that most of the grants and bursaries are given to children from rural areas.
When Mawrata asked the Acting Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Mr. Chandana Udawatta about this, he stated that there is a delay in receiving the money for the payment of the related money to the students and that the money would be paid as soon as the money is received.
