One hundred and fifty potential future leaders of the country received valuable financial and moral support for their endeavours from life insurance leader Ceylinco Life at the ninth annual ‘Pranama’ Scholarship Awards recently, the company said.

The total value of the scholarships awarded at this event exceeded Rs. 3.6 million, and brought the total value of scholarships awarded by Ceylinco Life to date to Rs. 37 million. Speaking at the event, Ceylinco Life Deputy Chairman R. Renganathan said obtaining good education is the right of every child but unfortunately most parents are unable to provide their children with the appropriate education due to cost factors. “The state is not able to provide for all educational needs in the country and it is vital that corporate sector entities support the education of future generations,” he said.

He said nine years ago, Ceylinco Life had identified this need and introduced the Pranama Scholarship scheme and had to date helped 1,152 students and young people make their dreams a reality. Examinations Commissioner General Anura Edirisinghe who was the Guest of Honour at the event said that he had participated in the Ceylinco Life Pranama scholarships presentation ceremony on seven or eight occasions.

The scholarship recipients and their parents were fortunate to have a programme like ‘Pranama,’ he said. “It is a responsibility of semi government and private entities to contribute a portion of their profits towards the improvement of welfare, health and education systems in the country and Ceylinco Life is a fine example of that,” Mr. Edirisinghe said.

Ms. J.P. Chathu Madusha Guruge, a Ceylinco Life Pranama scholarship recipient at the awards ceremony held in 2004 made an inspiring speech and explained how the scholarship had helped her to become successful in life. She is a lawyer, a lecturer on law, a consultant on Commercial Law and has been a TV presenter.

This year’s Ceylinco Life Pranama Scholarship recipients included 25 students who excelled at the Year 5 scholarship examination in 2009. Each of them will receive Rs. 90,000 in instalments over five years. Twenty five students who excelled at the G.C.E. (O/L) in 2008 were awarded Rs.72,000 each, payable monthly over two years.