• 460 Grade Five scholarship winners receive support until A-levels

Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya said education is a fundamental right that every child is entitled to and not a privilege, adding that the ‘Nena Isura’ Scholarship Programme strengthens the Government's efforts to ensure that no child is forced to abandon education due to financial hardship.

She made these remarks while addressing the ‘Nena Isura 2026’ scholarship awards ceremony held yesterday in memory of the late Ven. Galboda Siri Gnānissara Thera.

The programme, organised by the Ven. Galboda Siri Gnānissara Memorial Scholarship Fund under the guidance of Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Chief Incumbent Ven. Dr Kirinde Assaji Thera, awarded scholarships to 460 students who passed the Grade Five Scholarship Examination.

The fund will continue providing financial assistance to the recipients until they complete their GCE Advanced Level education.

Addressing the gathering, the Premier said the ‘Nena Isura’ Scholarship Fund remains a living legacy of the late monk's humanitarian vision and would provide invaluable support to children determined to continue their education despite economic hardship.

Dr Amarasuriya said the Government was committed to transforming the country's education sector and ensuring that every child, regardless of economic background, had equal access to quality education.

She said the Government was updating school curricula and moving away from an examination-centred education system towards one that nurtures children's practical skills, critical thinking and creativity.

She added that the Government was also investing more in rural schools to bridge the gap between urban and rural education by improving infrastructure, addressing teacher shortages and expanding access to technology.

The Premier noted that efforts were also underway to restore a proper academic calendar after years of disruptions to examinations and the release of results.

She further said the Government was expanding pathways for students to pursue higher and vocational education after leaving school, while strengthening programmes such as the school meal programme, free textbooks, school equipment and scholarship schemes to ensure that no child is forced to discontinue education due to financial difficulties.

She told the students that the scholarship represented not only financial assistance but also the confidence the entire nation had placed in their future.