President’s Fund awards scholarships and educational assistance to 106 Central Province students

A total of 106 students received scholarships and educational assistance at the Central Province programme of the President’s Fund educational scholarship scheme for children of low-income lottery sellers.

The event was held on September 27 at the Kandy District Secretariat under the patronage of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

The scheme is being implemented as a gesture of appreciation to lottery sellers, in recognition of their financial contribution to the President’s Fund through the sale of lottery tickets. It covers schoolchildren from Grade One to G.C.E. Advanced Level across all provinces of the country.

At the Central Province programme, scholarships were awarded to children of lottery sellers. Educational assistance was also provided to schoolchildren from the Mahaiyawa Poornawatta (West) Grama Niladhari Division.

Addressing the gathering, Wickramaratne said the programme was an expression of gratitude for the significant contribution made by lottery sellers to the development of the country. He said that since 2025 the President’s Fund has been engaged in a major public service programme as a fund dedicated entirely to the people.

During 2026, he said, the President’s Fund has so far spent Rs. 6,115 million on various programmes, including Rs. 856 million for medical treatment, as well as assistance for self-employment and vulnerable families. He further noted that financial assistance had also been provided to 41 religious institutions and for the staging of cultural pageants.

Following Cyclone Ditwah last year, Wickramaratne said, Rs. 2,060 million was provided to 206,001 schoolchildren affected by the disaster, at Rs. 10,000 per child. In 2026 alone, Rs. 2,666 million has been allocated for the Mahapola Scholarship Scheme.

The Speaker also noted that scholarships awarded to students who achieved outstanding results at the 2023/2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, which previously covered students ranked from first to 10th place, were expanded in 2025 to include students ranked from first to 20th place.

He said approximately 20,000 lottery sellers contribute more than Rs. 30 billion annually to the Government and the development of the country through their profession.

According to the Speaker, the Development Lotteries Board contributes Rs. 6 billion annually to the Government’s Consolidated Fund, Rs. 1.5 billion to the Inland Revenue Department and a further Rs. 600 million to the Ranaviru Fund, Kidney Fund, health development, social services and farmers’ funds.

He described the lottery sellers as “silent heroes” who make a significant contribution to the nation and expressed his gratitude for their contribution to the country’s development.

Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said students should seek knowledge not only through textbooks but also by actively exploring knowledge beyond the classroom. He stressed that discipline should be developed alongside knowledge and skills, noting that skills without discipline would have limited value to the country. He said the investment made through the Development Lotteries Board, the National Lotteries Board and the President’s Fund in the education of children is one of the greatest investments that can be made in the country.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said the Government had introduced new education reforms to ensure that children with different skills and abilities would not be left behind by the existing education system. He said that while physical development could be carried out through various projects, developing human resources and transforming the way people think are more challenging tasks. He urged students to make maximum use of the opportunities provided through the programme, obtain a good education and become productive citizens who can contribute to the country.

Central Province Governor Dr. Harsha Suranga Fernando, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the President’s Fund Roshan Gamage, Development Lotteries Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer M.R.H. Swarnathilaka, and National Lotteries Board Chairman M.D. Cyril Anthony Perera also addressed the gathering.

Central Province Chief Secretary G.H.M.A. Premasinghe, provincial public representatives, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta, government officials and heads of the security forces were also present.