NSB starts this year’s mission for nation’s gifted children

Nat ional Savings Bank has been making a continuous effort to encourage the saving habit of the people of this country now for more than 44 years, teaching the nation to save. The bank, while marching forward with this ultimate mission always commits to extend a helping hand for the children to be successful at examinations and secure a good education in addition to ‘Punchi Hapan’ and ‘Hapan’ Savings Accounts of the bank introduced for children. As an initiative that realises this effort National Savings Bank organises a series of island wide and branch level workshops every year targeting the students who sit for the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination.

Accordingly, with the view of assisting another group of children to get prepared for the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination all measures are in place to organise yet another successful island wide Hapan Scholarship Seminar series this year too. As in the previous years, these workshops will give them the opportunity to take part in a discussion of the model papers provided by the bank and the past papers, conducted by an experienced teacher. After preparing them for the examination the bank makes it a habit to appreciate their achievements because we believe that such an act would encourage another generation of children to reap the harvest of education. Accordingly, the ‘Hapan Scholarship Awards’ is organised annually as a national event to felicitate the children who have scored best at the examination. Children who have scored highest marks at the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination and who maintain Hapan Savings Account or Hapan Postal Savings Accounts with National Savings Bank with a balance of Rs. 2,500 as at 1 October will be awarded Hapan Scholarships at the occasion. With a view to offer the opportunity of receiving a scholarship to a larger group of children the bank has taken measures to felicitate students who have scored highest marks in each district in both Sinhala and Tamil mediums. Students who have claimed 1st, 2nd and 3rd places scoring the highest marks will be awarded with cash gifts to the value of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively while the rest of the children who are among the best 15 students in each district both in Sinhala and Tamil mediums will be offered cash prizes and all the Hapan awardees will receive a certificate,

medal and school bag. In addition, to appreciate the courage and determination of the differently-abled children who have performed well will receive special felicitations with certificates and gifts from the bank. The fact whether they are Hapan Account Holders in the bank or not has not taken in to consideration. We truly believe that such initiatives would provide us the opportunity to convey the value of saving as well as the education to the children of the country. On the other hand it would be a relief for the parents who are committed for the betterment of the children. Hapan Savings Account is the guidance provided by National Savings Bank for the children of the nation to practice saving from an early age. A Hapan Account can be opened from any branch of the bank, post office or sub post office. Hapan Account holders receive many attractive benefits along with an interest rate of 1% additional to the rate offered to other savings accounts. Further, a number of measures are in place to improve the efficiency of and to expand the school banking network established with the objective of inculcating the habit of saving among the school community.