COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – President Ranil Wickremesinghe has reaffirmed his dedication to advancing Buddhist education in Sri Lanka, despite ongoing economic difficulties. This pledge was made during a scholarship award ceremony at Temple Trees on July 24, where the “Presidential Scholarship Program” 2024 was launched. The program awarded 3,000 scholarships to student monks, Seela Mathas at Piriven, and lay students across the country.
Scholarships of Rs. 9,000 were deposited directly into the accounts of the recipients, with future monthly payments of Rs. 3,000 planned. Additionally, students advancing to the Piriven Pracheena or G.C.E. (Advanced Level) exams will receive Rs. 6,000 per month until their exams. On the day of the ceremony, each recipient was credited Rs. 18,000, including outstanding payments.
In his speech, President Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of preserving Buddhist education, stating:
“Today, we are launching a new phase of the ‘Presidential Scholarship Program’, which now includes provisions for student monks and Seela Matha. We have transferred all outstanding scholarship amounts to the recipients’ bank accounts. This scholarship program has a significant background. I don’t need to elaborate on the hardships faced by the people over the past four years due to the economic downturn. With the stabilization of the country’s economy, it is time to provide relief to the people. To this end, we have implemented various initiatives such as ‘Aswesuma’ and ‘Urumaya’. We have also introduced several scholarship programs through the President’s Fund to help talented students from low-income families continue their education. Given the country’s economic situation, monks in rural temples are also facing difficulties. We cannot allow monk education to collapse, so we have implemented this scholarship program for the monks and Seela Matha. In focusing on the Buddhist order, we must create the necessary conditions for nurturing a new generation of monks in the country. This scholarship program represents a significant initiative by the government toward that goal. Buddhist education should be preserved and enhanced. When the Piriven system was established, I had the opportunity to support it. I must emphasize that, despite the country’s challenges, we will never abandon this responsibility.”
The event was attended by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, along with various ministers and senior government officials. The President’s Fund dedicates nearly Rs. 300 million annually to this scholarship program, highlighting the government’s ongoing commitment to supporting Buddhist education and ensuring the continued development of the nation’s educational landscape.
~PMD~
