Higher education scholarships for ninety-three Trinco students

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2003, 00:47 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian (TNA) Mr.R.Sampanthan participating as the chief guest at the Mahapola higher education scholarship-awarding event held in Trincomalee Saturday appealed to the Sri Lankan government to formulate a scheme immediately to admit all qualified students for higher education to universities the same year, sources said.

Mr.Sampanthan said at present students who are qualified for higher education passing GCE advanced level examination are able to enter universities only after idling for one to two years. This waste of precious resources happens only in Sri Lanka, added Mr.Sampanthan.


Parliamentarian Mr.K.M.Thowfeek lighting the traditional oil lamp inaugurating the Mahapola scholarship event in Trincomalee while parliamentarians Sampanthan, K.Thurairetnasingham , M.K.A.De S Gunawardene and Government Agent Mr.Nelumdeniya look on


Ninety-three students in Trincomalee district were awarded Mahapola scholarship to follow higher education in universities in the island.

Mahapola scholarship scheme was launched in 1981, twenty-three years ago by the late Minister Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali in the then UNP government to provide monetary assistance to students who come from poor families to follow higher education in universities and other higher seats of learning, sources said.


Parliamentarian Sampanthan gives Mahalpola scholarship award to a winning student


In 1981 only 421 students were awarded Mahapola scholarships in the country. In the year 2003 about 8500 students have been awarded with Mahapola scholarship, Trincomalee District Government Agent Mr.N.H.K.Nelumdeniya said in his welcome address at the event held at Trincomalee Rajkeeya Vidyaloka College.

Trincomalee district parliamentarian Mr.K.M.Thowfeek, one of the chief guests at the occasion said yesterday's children were today's youths. They are tomorrow's leaders. Therefore the youths should prepare themselves to lead the country towards prosperity with a sense of responsibility. They should not allow themselves to be misled by vicious forces, he stressed.


a section of Trincomalee students who were awarded with Mahapola sholarship for higher education


Peoples Alliance parliamentarian Mr.M.K.A.De.S de S. Gunawardene and NE Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Mr.R.Thiagalingam also spoke.

Guests present at the event handed Mahapola scholarships to qualified students.