Mahapola grant increased
THE 252nd Mahapola which is the Silver Jubilee of the Mahapola
Scholarship Programme, being held at the Vidyaraja National School,
Thawalama, Hiniduma, from January 17, simultaneously with the "Deyata
Arunalu" Vocational and Technical Exhibition organised under the
Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training will come to an end on
January 22.
The Mahapola and the Exhibition are jointly organized by the Ministry
of Vocational and Technical Training and the Ministry of Trade,
Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Marketing Development on the initiative
of Minister Piyasena Gamage and Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.
The event marks the completion of 25 years of the Mahapola programme
which was inaugurated in 1981 as a brainchild of the late Minister
Lalith Athulathmudali to benefit around 30,000 students per year.
Addressing the Inaugural ceremony on January 17, Trade, Commerce and
Consumer Affairs Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, who attended as the
Chief Guest, said that the Mahapola is a successful programme from its
outset fostered under successive governments and the Mahapola allowance
was increased by Rs. 2000 in 2004.
Under the "Mahinda Chintana" concept of President Mahinda Rajapakse
steps have been taken to double this amount, said Trade, Commerce and
Consumer Affairs Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle inaugurating the 252nd
Mahapola.
Minister Piyasena Gamage, addressing the gathering said that he was
happy about the steps taken to conduct a successful Vocational and
Technical Exhibition simultaneously with the 252nd Mahapola and that the
inaugural ceremony of the Mahapola programme was held at Vijitha Maha
Vidyalaya in the Hiniduma Electorate in 1981 under the patronage of the
late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali, the founder of the Mahapola
Concept.
Southern Provincial Council Leader of the House I. Wijayawantha,
Vocational and Technical Training Ministry Secretary Thilak Hapangama
and Mahapola Entrepreneurship Council Director General Thilina Bandara
Tennekone and officials of the two Ministries attended the occasion. |