Serendib Educational Foundation marks silver jubilee

Serendib Educational Foundation incorporated under the Parliament Act No. 54 of 2009 is one of the few scholarship funds, which has an endowment fund under its jurisdiction. Since its inception Serendib Educational Foundation has been providing students from economically backward sections of the community easy access to higher education. Since 1991 Serendib Educational Foundation has awarded more than 2,800 scholarships to deserving students. The organisation in accordance with Nelson Mandela’s pronouncement ‘Education is a powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’ has provided financial grants to enable students to achieve their goals.

Serendib Educational Foundation is focused on offering monthly assistance to talented students, project based support to educational institutions and any other activity that facilitates education. Many activities were carried out during the year 2016 and the climax of the 25 year celebrations was the Serendib Educational Foundation Annual Interviews and Awards Day held on 14 August at the MICH Auditorium Colombo 6. Dignitaries from the business, legal, academic and financial sectors graced the occasion. Special presentations were made by Guest of honour Mass. L. Usuf Attorney at law, keynote speaker Zahira College Board of Governors Chairman Fouzul Hameed and Chief Guest Faiz Mustapha. The event commenced with the interviews of potential scholarship recipients from many parts of the island.

These students had excelled at the GCE O Levels and A Levels but due to poverty and financial issues they were unable to proceed with further studies. However, Serendib Educat io n a l Foundation stepped in to give these deserving students much needed financial support through a scholarship program which would cover their entire higher education. This laudable venture by Serendib Educational Foundation gives around 150 scholarships annually, each scholarship averaging around Rs. 90,000 per student. The audience numbering around 200 were invited to contribute towards various endowment funds. The funds included: Collective fund – An individual can invest Rs. 10,000 or multiples thereof to enrich the endowment pool. The Serendib Educational Foundation’s endowment fund is a dedicated and permanent source of funding that enables the foundation to provide scholarships to deserving students throughout Sri Lanka. As the endowment fund provides an enduring source for scholarship distribution it is imperative that it is sustained and therefore Serendib Educational Foundation has different types of ways where donors can contribute. Single Endowment Fund – Invest Rs. 375,000.

The income derived from both the schemes meet monthly payments of Rs. 2,500 for students 4 easy steps to contribute: 1. Make an intention to create a single endowment scheme. 2. Commit an amount that is best suited to your financial situation. 3. Use the endowment to honour or as a memorial to loved ones like your parents. 4. One off cash donation or make a pledge to donate a fixed sum over a period Serendib Educational Foundation is inviting all Sri Lankans to join them to light a candle to illuminate the path of the future. Pix by Gitika Talukdar