President’s Fund to Recognise Nearly 3,000 Top A/L Students with Rs. 100,000 Each
Image Source : www.pmd.gov.lk
Sri Lanka’s President’s Fund is preparing to recognise nearly 3,000 students who achieved outstanding district-level results at the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, with each selected student set to receive Rs. 100,000 in financial assistance and a certificate of recognition.
The expanded programme is scheduled to begin in Kilinochchi on 26 September 2026, marking an important step in a national effort to acknowledge academic achievement while easing some of the financial pressures associated with further education.
The initiative is particularly significant because recognition will be extended across the country’s districts and subject streams, ensuring that high-performing students outside the main urban centres are also included in a formal system of encouragement and support.
Number of recognised students doubled
According to information reported by Ada Derana and the Daily Financial and Commerce, the number of students recognised from each subject stream in every district has been increased from 10 to 20.
This adjustment means that nearly 3,000 students from across Sri Lanka are expected to benefit during the 2026 programme. Each student selected through the district-level process will receive a financial grant of Rs. 100,000, together with a certificate formally acknowledging the student’s performance at the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination.
The decision to double the number of awardees represents a substantial expansion of the scheme. It provides a wider platform for academic recognition and creates an opportunity for more students to receive practical assistance at a stage when many families are preparing to meet the cost of university education, professional training, study materials and other educational requirements.
The first programme under the expanded arrangement is scheduled to take place in Kilinochchi on 26 September, giving the northern district a prominent role in the opening of this year’s recognition programme.
Programme launched as a new President’s Fund initiative
The President’s Fund recognition programme was launched in 2025 as a new initiative under the chairmanship of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
During its initial implementation, the programme recognised students who had achieved the highest district-level results in each subject stream at the 2023/2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination. At that stage, 10 students with the highest results from each subject stream were recognised in every district.
The present expansion builds directly on that earlier structure. Rather than replacing the district-based model, the programme is being broadened so that a larger number of high-achieving students can be acknowledged and supported.
The approach also gives visibility to academic achievement across a range of subject streams, rather than concentrating recognition on a single discipline. Such a structure is important in a national education system where students pursue different pathways in the arts, commerce, science, technology and other fields, each of which contributes to the country’s future intellectual and professional capacity.
Financial assistance designed to support further education
The stated objective of the programme is to identify and encourage the talents of the younger generation as they prepare to take responsibility for the country’s future, while providing financial assistance to support their further education.
That objective places the recognition programme beyond a purely ceremonial function. The certificate provides formal acknowledgement of achievement, while the Rs. 100,000 grant is intended to offer practical assistance at a critical transition point between secondary education and further study.
For families, the period following the Advanced Level Examination can involve considerable expenditure, including travel, accommodation, textbooks, digital equipment, tuition, examination fees and other costs associated with university or vocational education. Although the grant cannot remove every financial barrier, it can provide timely assistance and demonstrate that academic effort is being recognised through tangible support.
The district-level design is also constructive because it allows achievement to be considered within local educational communities. Students from every part of Sri Lanka are given an opportunity to be recognised, including those who have excelled in areas where access to educational resources may differ from that available in the largest cities.
By increasing the number of recognised students from 10 to 20 per subject stream in each district, the President’s Fund has created a broader framework through which achievement can be celebrated and future educational ambitions can be encouraged.
Future expansion to provincial level
The President’s Fund has indicated that the programme may be expanded to the provincial level in the future.
Such an expansion could provide an additional layer of recognition for students whose results stand out not only within their districts but also across wider administrative regions. It could also help create a more comprehensive national structure for encouraging academic excellence, provided that selection criteria remain transparent and are communicated clearly to students, families and schools.
The development of the programme from its initial district-level implementation to a larger national awards arrangement reflects an increasing emphasis on recognising educational achievement as a shared social responsibility. Schools, teachers, parents and communities all contribute to a student’s success, while institutional support can help ensure that academic ability is not limited by financial circumstances.
Wider scholarship support also under discussion
The latest education-support discussions reported by Daily FC indicate that the President’s Fund is also considering the expansion and administration of the “Subhaga”, “Technology” and “Sujatha Diyani” scholarship programmes, which are currently managed by the Ministry of Education.
Daily FC reported that the monthly allowances for the “Sujatha Diyani” and “Technology” scholarships are set to increase from Rs. 750 to Rs. 1,500 from the next academic year, while the number of students benefiting from those programmes is projected to rise from 950 to 1,000.
The report further stated that scholarship payments are expected to be managed directly through the President’s Fund, with outstanding allowances to be paid as part of efforts to ensure continuity of support for existing beneficiaries.
These measures, together with the expanded recognition programme for top Advanced Level performers, point towards a broader approach to student welfare in which academic achievement and financial assistance are considered together. Recognition can motivate students, but sustained support is often essential if that motivation is to be translated into higher education, professional qualifications and meaningful employment.
Encouraging achievement in every district
The recognition of nearly 3,000 top-performing Advanced Level students is a positive development for Sri Lanka’s education sector. It acknowledges the discipline and commitment required to achieve strong examination results, while also recognising the contribution of families, teachers and schools that support students throughout their preparation.
The programme’s strongest feature is its wider reach. By extending recognition to 20 students from each subject stream in every district, it creates a more inclusive platform for celebrating achievement and ensures that academic success is not viewed solely through the experience of a small number of highly visible institutions.
As the first ceremony approaches in Kilinochchi, the initiative offers a timely reminder that the country’s future depends on identifying talent wherever it is found and providing young people with the confidence and assistance required to continue their education.
Sri Lankan students, families and communities around the world will be watching with interest as the programme develops, particularly if the proposed provincial expansion creates further opportunities for high-achieving young people to be recognised and supported.
eLanka continues to share positive stories about Sri Lankan students and young achievers through its online community platform, helping families in Australia and around the world remain connected with important developments in Sri Lankan education and society.
Source: https://adaderana.lk/news/cmucpytfl0001356okyynosfe
Source: https://dailyfc.com/presidents-fund-to-boost-student-aid-sujatha-diyani-and-technology-scholarships-set-for-allowance-hike-wider-reach/
Additional official source credited: https://www.pmd.gov.lk/news/?slug=discussion-on-the-implementation-of-the-subhaga-technology-and-sujatha-diyani-scholarship-programmes-by-the-presidents-fund&p=0
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