Sri Dalada Maligawa and People’s Bank jointly unveiled the ‘Sisu Diriyata Bodu Saviyak’ social service program during the Central Province Scholarship Award Ceremony of the Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy Centre held at its auditorium in Pallekele recently.
The main objective of this program is to support the education of children of Sri Lanka who have demonstrated talent in their academic endeavours but face hardships due to poverty. During this event, students who had successfully passed the 2023 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination were awarded scholarships up to Grade 11, commencing from the year 2024.
A large number of scholarships have already been awarded to children through the Buddhist Welfare Fund established jointly by People’s Bank and the Sri Dalada Maligawa. This new ‘Sisu Diriyata Bodu Saviyak’ program is set to increase the benefits currently given and provide them to children from low-income families.
Accordingly, scholarships are to be provided to about 2,000 children covering 207 Divisional Secretariats in 16 districts across the island. The scholarships are selected through the Divisional Secretariats based on specific criteria. A monthly scholarship of Rs. 1,500 will be provided to children from low-income families, regardless of race or religion, for a period of 6 years, during which the total amount received by one student will be Rs. 108,000. The Sri Dalada Maligawa and People’s Bank staff made contributions to the scholarships for the upcoming six years for the children who passed the scholarship exam in 2023.
As a result, a total of 12,420 children will benefit from this programme during the next six years. A total sum of Rs.36 million will be provided as scholarships in the first year, and accordingly, it is estimated that a grand total of Rs.216 million will be provided as scholarships at the end of the six-year period. This is the first time in the history of Sri Lanka that such a significant financial value has been provided as an educational support to ensure a brighter future for the students of the country.
The Anunayake Thera of the Asgiri Chapter, Ven. Anamaduwe Dhammadassi Thera of the historic Athkanda Raja Maha Viharaya, Nayake of the inner shrine room Ven. Urulewatte Dhammarakkitha Thera who is also the Incumbent of the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya, as well as other other monks, Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa Pradeep Nilanga Dela, Basnayake Nilames of the Sri Maha Naatha and Paththini Devalayas, People’s Bank Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando, Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Clive Fonseka, Deputy General Manager (Channel Management) Naleen Pathiranage, Deputy General Manager (Human Resources) Manjula Dissanayake, senior officers, District Secretaries of Kandy and Matale, Divisional Secretaries, parents and a large number of scholarship recipient students participated in the event.
