HSBC grants scholarships to undergraduates

HSBC together with the Association For Lighting A Candle (AFLAC) International, yesterday marked the launch of its ‘Undergraduate Scholarship Programme’ with the intake of the first batch of 25 university students.

The programme is aimed at uplifting the lives of 100 university students from marginalised communities in Sri Lanka, by the year-end.

The scholarship programme sponsored by HSBC for four years will take effect from the day it is granted to the university students. Students studying at different faculties and Universities in Sri Lanka will have the opportunity of being selected through a screening process conducted by AFLAC International in March this year.

Chief Executive Officer of HSBC David J.H. Griffiths, Sri Lanka and the Maldives stated, “Although there is a free education system in Sri Lanka and many youth perform well in their studies, they are restricted from pursing a higher education due to personal monetary constraints.

Therefore we have identified the need, to help these students to carry forward their education, and have teamed up with AFLAC International to sponsor the scholarship programme.

We hope that through this programme, we will be able to encourage university students and potential graduates to complete their studies and secure employment in the corporate world.”

Captain Elmo Jayawardena, Founder President, AFLAC International stated’ “The generosity of HSBC’s Corporate Social Responsibility and AFLAC’s commitment to assist those in “need” have tied up to grant 100 scholarships to deserving university students. It is a wonderful beginning and a long term promise from a proven partnership”.