President’s Fund Honours 360 Southern Province A/L High Achievers with Rs. 100,000 Each at University of Ruhuna
Image Source : www.newscenter.lk
The academic achievements of students from Galle, Matara and Hambantota were recognised at the University of Ruhuna on Saturday, 24 October 2026, when 360 young people who excelled at the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination received financial assistance and certificates of recognition.
The Southern Province programme, conducted by the President’s Fund as part of its district-level recognition initiative, was held at the Rabindranath Tagore Auditorium. The gathering brought students together with their families, educators and public representatives to mark a significant milestone in their academic journeys.
For the students recognised, the occasion offered both acknowledgement of their examination results and practical assistance as they prepare for the next stage of education. It was also a moment of pride for families across the Southern Province, including Sri Lankan families living abroad who follow the progress of young people in their home districts.
360 students recognised across three districts
Under the programme, the 20 students with the highest results in each subject stream at the 2025 Advanced Level Examination are recognised. Each receives financial assistance of Rs. 100,000 and a certificate.
At the Southern Province event, the recipients had placed between first and twentieth in six subject streams across Galle, Matara and Hambantota. The total of 360 students reflects the reach of the initiative across all three districts: 20 students in each of six streams in each district.
The programme’s recognition numbers have been doubled this year, enabling a larger group of high achievers to be acknowledged. The expansion means that students performing strongly across the subject streams have a wider opportunity to receive both formal recognition and financial support.
The assistance is a practical contribution at a point when students and their families are considering the costs associated with further study. University education brings new demands, and financial support can help students navigate some of the difficulties that arise as they continue their studies. The award does not diminish the effort required to succeed; rather, it recognises achievement while offering support for the path ahead.
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A ceremony rooted in the Southern Province
Holding the programme at the University of Ruhuna gave the recognition a strong regional setting. The university auditorium welcomed students from districts with distinct communities and educational traditions, while bringing the achievement of young people from across the province into a shared space.
The event recognised students from urban centres, towns and smaller communities throughout Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Their results represent individual commitment, but also the sustained work of teachers, principals and families who support students through years of learning and preparation.
For parents and caregivers, seeing students receive recognition in their own province makes the achievement especially meaningful. The ceremony also offered an opportunity for school communities to celebrate results that extend beyond the examination hall and reflect the dedication invested in education.
Across the global Sri Lankan community, families often remain closely connected to the progress of relatives and friends in Sri Lanka. The success of students in the Southern Province is therefore a source of pride not only for households at the event, but also for Sri Lankans abroad who continue to value educational opportunity and achievement in their home communities.
Education and student welfare in focus
Several speakers addressed the gathering, with their remarks focused on education, student welfare and the support available to young people.
Speaker of Parliament Dr Jagath Wickramaratne referred to measures intended to support children’s education and help secure their future. His remarks placed emphasis on the importance of sustained support for students as they progress through education.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj stressed that all children in the country should have access to quality, standardised education. She also highlighted the need to provide the facilities required to make that access meaningful, and commended the role played by the President’s Fund in supporting this objective.
Addressing the students, Southern Province Governor Professor Susiripala Manawadu appreciated the Fund’s efforts to help young people overcome difficulties encountered in university education and to equip them to progress in the face of challenges. His message underlined the importance of combining academic achievement with practical support as students move towards further study.
Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary and Secretary to the Fund, also addressed the gathering. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath, Member of Parliament Lal Premanath, other public representatives from the Southern Province, District Secretaries, government officials, school principals, teachers, parents and students.
Recognising achievement and supporting the next step
Examination success is the result of many influences: the student’s own effort, guidance from teachers, support at home and access to suitable learning conditions. Recognition programmes can help make that work visible, while financial assistance can provide useful support as students consider their next educational steps.
The Southern Province event brought these two forms of recognition together. The certificates acknowledged students’ high results, while the Rs. 100,000 assistance offered a tangible contribution towards the demands of continuing education. The doubling of the number of students recognised this year also broadened the programme’s reach across the six subject streams and three districts.
For Galle, Matara and Hambantota, the ceremony was a celebration of young people whose academic performance has brought distinction to their families and schools. For the students themselves, it marked an important point in a longer journey: achievement in the Advanced Level Examination, followed by the opportunities and responsibilities of further learning.
The event at the University of Ruhuna affirmed the value of recognising students close to the communities in which they studied. By celebrating high achievement and providing practical assistance, the programme offered encouragement at a formative stage, while highlighting the contribution of education to the future prospects of young people in the south of Sri Lanka.
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