COLOMBO : President’s Fund Awards Rs. 100,000 Scholarships to 76 University Students with Disabilities
The second programme of the “Sarasavi Dhiriyo Abhiman” special scholarship assistance programme, implemented by the President’s Fund for students with disabilities studying at Sri Lanka’s State universities who have not allowed their physical limitations to stand in the way of their educational aspirations, was held at the Jaffna District Secretariat yesterday (22) under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya.
Under this programme, all students with disabilities currently studying at Sri Lanka’s State universities are recognised, and the President’s Fund provides each student with a one-off educational grant of Rs. 100,000.
A total of 76 students with disabilities studying at the Universities of Jaffna, Vavuniya and Peradeniya were recognised at the event, while the total number of students eligible for the programme is close to 400.
A special feature of the programme was that the scholarships were presented by going directly to the beneficiary students.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya said the Government hopes that, by awarding scholarships through the President’s Fund to students with disabilities pursuing university education, it can affirm that persons with disabilities are a valuable and essential part of society.
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya further stated:
“Today is a special day for all of us. Those of you standing before me are a special group of students. That is because of your courage and confidence. It is because of that courage and confidence that you have faced all the challenges you have had to confront and have reached this point today.
What the President’s Fund is doing today is paying tribute to that courage and confidence. When I look at you, I know that there are tens of thousands of other students who can look at you and think, ‘I too can come this far.’ You are an encouragement to them. We believe that, through this tribute, thousands more students will follow in your footsteps and reach this point.
You may have faced a thousand difficulties. You may have suffered. There may have been occasions when you were rejected. But what we are trying to say through this programme today is that you are valuable to us. We value your determination. We must thank you for coming this far without allowing your limitations to become challenges that held you back.
The largest number of persons with disabilities in our country are in the Northern Province. This is the bitter experience of a bitter war. As a government committed to ensuring that such a situation never occurs again, and to preventing the creation of factors that could lead to such circumstances, we hope to provide some strength to the people who suffered the most during that war. We believe that is extremely important.
It is a pleasure to be able to make the President’s Fund a contributor to the programme of building a society in which no one is left behind and everyone feels a sense of equality. We have prepared programmes to support children with disabilities from pre-school education through to university education. We have expanded educational opportunities. The President’s Fund has implemented pilot projects to provide learning assistance through the use of technology.
Just as important is to instil in society the idea that persons with disabilities are important to us and that they are valuable to us. Therefore, we ask you to tell your stories to others.”
