Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Saturday said developing a high-quality human resource base is essential to safeguarding the country’s economic, social and cultural future, stressing that education remains central to that effort.
Speaking at the EDCS Sisu Nena Pranama scholarship award ceremony at Temple Trees, Amarasuriya said the government is committed to transforming the education sector and will continue to push ahead despite challenges, guided by a clear vision.
She said education must be strengthened from the school level to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world, particularly as countries face mounting economic and environmental pressures. Students entering universities, she added, should take on leadership roles and actively contribute to shaping that transformation.
Amarasuriya noted that while nearly 300,000 students enter primary education each year, only about 40,000 gain admission to state universities, urging those selected to use the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the growth of the Education Service Employees’ Co-operative Thrift and Credit Society, saying it was notable that an organisation founded in 1930 with just 58 members and a one-rupee membership fee has grown into the largest cooperative society in South Asia, with around 215,000 members.
The scholarship programme, organised by the Education Service Employees’ Co-operative Thrift and Credit Society Ltd, recognised students selected to state universities for the 2023–2024 academic year. Scholarships totalling more than Rs. 13.7 million were awarded to 2,292 students.
Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Labour and General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Service Union, Mahinda Jayasinghe, said corruption-free management had helped increase the society’s financial strength from Rs. 1.2 billion to Rs. 1.7 billion within about nine months.
The scholarship scheme began in 1984 with 15 students and an initial fund of Rs. 3,500, and has continued for 41 years. Currently, awards of up to Rs. 75,000 per student are provided.
Education officials and representatives of the cooperative society also attended the ceremony. (Newswire)