Jinnah Scholarships given to 150 students:

From Pakistan with love

Anushika Ranadewa The Pakistan government through its High Commission in Sri Lanka presented educational scholarships worth Rs 4 million to 150 Sri Lankan students who excelled at the O-L and A-L examinations under Jinnah Scholarship Programme 2013.

The award ceremony was held at Ananda College Auditorium. Education Ministry Monitoring MP Mohan Lal Grero was the Chief Guest. Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Major General Qasim Qureshi also participated.

The Jinnah Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a strict criteria involving merit and need for financial assistance. Under the programme, each successful student receives a reward of Rs 24,000 as support for one year to follow their studies.

The High Commissioner congratulated the students for their academic achievements. He said Pakistan will continue assistance to Sri Lankan students in the future as well.

Grero praised the Pakistan government for the assistance to Sri Lanka. “The Pakistan government's facilitation for educational requirements of needy Sri Lankan students demonstrate their loyalty towards mutual co-operation among the two nations,” he said.

Grero in a special message to students who received the scholarship said: “Never forget to express your gratitude one day to all who helped you, as you express your gratitude, you must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

He said Pakistan is a close companion of Sri Lanka and lent a hand to Sri Lanka when it was needed most.

Grero said the scholarship programme has benefitted students from all communities for the past eight years.

The 165 students received cash prizes and certificates from the Chief Guest and the High Commissioner during the ceremony. The Pakistan government has been awarding the Jinnah Educational Scholarship since 2005. During the past eight years, Rs 30 million worth of scholarships have been awarded to over 1,000 deserving students.

Pakistan High Commission officials, students and their families were also present.