Ceylinco Life’s ‘Pranama’ scholarships pass 2,000 milestone

A ‘Pranama’ recipient receives his scholarship from Ceylinco Life’s Director/Deputy CEO Thushara Ranasinghe (right)

Ceylinco Life’s ‘Pranama’ scholarships programme reached a milestone this month when the 15th round of scholarships awarded by the life insurance leader took the number of high achieving young Sri Lankans benefitted to date, beyond the 2,000 mark.

Another 154 scholarships worth more than Rs. 10 million were presented by Ceylinco Life at an erudite event at the BMICH which was attended by senior academics, officials, school principals, parents and students from all parts of Sri Lanka.

Ceylinco Life’s Pranama scholarships programme recognises academic as well as extra-curricular achievements of children of policyholders with cash rewards for those who achieve the best results in their respective districts at the year 5 scholarship examination, the GCE Ordinary Level, and the GCE Advanced Level as well as for children who excel at the national level in sports, culture, arts, drama or invention. Addressing the event as Chief Guest, Professor Upul Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, elaborated on the importance of scholarships as a motivator of highly intelligent students to reach their full potential. He recalled that some of Sri Lanka’s most eminent educationists such as C. W. W. Kannangara and Sir D. B. Jayatilaka, as well as Dr B. R. Ambedkar, the main author of India’s constitution, had been recipients of scholarships. Stressing that education is the key to social mobility, Prof. Dissanayake said he understood the immense joy of parents at the event, because all parents want their children rise higher and achieve more than they have, and motivators such as the Pranama scholarship support such aspirations. Ceylinco Life Director/Deputy Chief Executive Officer Thushara Ranasinghe said Ceylinco Life does not consider the Rs 110 million committed to date to the Pranama scholarships scheme as an expenditure, but as an investment in the future of Sri Lanka. Emphasising on the importance of leadership qualities and character in addition to the acquisition of skills, he used the ‘Iceberg Principle’ to illustrate how 90 per cent of leadership comprises of character and qualities that are not visible above the surface. “Your skills can get you to the top, but it is your character that will keep you there,” Ranasinghe told scholarship recipients. The latest recipients of Ceylinco Life Pranama scholarships included 26 students who achieved the best results at district level at the 2015 Year 5 scholarship examination; 25 students placed first in their districts at the 2014 GCE (Ordinary Level) examination; 26 students who secured the best ‘Z’ scores at district level at the 2014 GCE (Advanced Level) examination;69 students placed second, third and fourth in their districts according to their ‘Z’ score at the same examination and eight students who excelled at national or international level in sports, culture, arts, drama or invention.

With this round of scholarships, the total number of students rewarded under the Ceylinco Life Pranama scheme rose to 2,078.

Effective this year, Ceylinco Life increased the value of the monthly disbursement to children eligible for scholarships on their performance at the Year 5 scholarship examination and at the GCE (Ordinary Level) examination, as well as to those placed first in their districts at the GCE (Advanced Level) examination. The one-time payment presented to students placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in their districts at the GCE Advanced Level examination was increased last year.

One of many benefits available to Ceylinco Life policyholders, the Pranama scholarship scheme underscores the importance accorded by the company to education, which is one of the key areas of intervention in the Ceylinco Life Rewards programme.