In the 23rd edition of its annual presentation, Ceylinco Life awarded ‘Pranama’ scholarships to 152 promising young Sri Lankans identified as future leaders of the nation. The company, a leader in the life insurance market, granted Rs 22.2 million in scholarships across four categories. This initiative, which started in 2002, aims to reward and inspire high-achieving children of its policyholders.
Ceylinco Life had already presented scholarships exceeding Rs 200 million in value to 3,186 students before this latest round of scholarships. Today, many past Pranama scholarship recipients are serving the country as doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants, teachers and IT professionals.
Delivering the keynote address at the event, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Uva-Wellassa University Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana said Ceylinco Life’s Pranama Scholarships programme plays an important role in motivating good students to develop into successful students, mentor their peers and become leaders. He stressed the value of the KSAM model in the acquisition of the Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Mindset needed to become a lifelong learner.
Prof. Vidanapathirana offered valuable insights on how students can move their daily learning from superficial to deep memory. He highlighted the significance of developing soft skills and the importance of team spirit, effective communication, trust, and empathy. Additionally, he underscored the critical role of early education, revealing that 95 percent of a child's attitudes are established by the age of five.
Ceylinco Life Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer Ranga Abeynayake said the future of the country is dependent on the quality of its education, and while Sri Lanka’s free education system had played a key role in the development of the country, it has its shortcomings.
“Today, in the era of artificial intelligence, when the universe of knowledge is accessible via a mobile phone, the education system has to be modernized and match international standards”, he said. Ceylinco Life presented Pranama scholarships to 29 students who excelled at the 2023 Year 5 scholarship examination, to 25 students who excelled at the 2022 G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination, to 25 students placed 1st in their districts at the 2022 G.C.E.
Awards were given to 64 students who ranked 2nd, 3rd, or 4th in their districts in the Advanced Level examination. Additionally, nine Merit Awards were presented to young Sri Lankans who have distinguished themselves in national or international arenas in sports, art, drama, invention, or other creative fields.
