The inaugural ceremony of the President’s Fund’s ‘Sarasavi Diriyo Abhiman’ scholarship programme for students with disabilities studying at Sri Lanka’s State universities, who have not allowed physical limitations to stand in the way of their educational aspirations, will be held on Saturday, 11 July, at Temple Trees, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya.
Under this programme, all students with disabilities currently studying at State universities in Sri Lanka will be recognised, and each eligible student will receive a one-off scholarship grant of Rs. 100,000 from the President’s Fund.
At the inaugural ceremony, 254 university students with disabilities will be recognised, while the total number of students eligible to benefit under the programme is close to 400. In view of the difficulties faced by students travelling to Colombo, a separate ceremony for beneficiaries from the Northern, North Central and Eastern Provinces has also been scheduled for August.
The ‘Sarasavi Diriyo Abhiman’ programme, implemented by the President’s Fund, provides national recognition for the dedication, ability and academic achievements of university students with disabilities. It is also a landmark social empowerment initiative that reaffirms the Government’s commitment that no physical limitation should stand in the way of a person’s educational aspirations. (PMD)