The power of recognition to inspire and motivate further achievement was the central theme when Ceylinco Life presented scholarships to another 168 young Sri Lankans at the 17th edition of the ‘Pranama’ scholarships program recently.
High achieving school children from every district of Sri Lanka, their parents and teachers filled the main auditorium of the Nelum Pokuna theatre at a poignant felicitation of the future leaders of the country, at which Ceylinco Life presented more than Rs 11 million in new scholarships.
Children who excelled at the Year 5 scholarship examination, students that topped their districts at the GCE Ordinary Level examination, high achievers at the GCE Advanced Level examination and 13 young people that excelled at the national or international level in sports, culture, arts, drama or invention were among those honoured at the grand event.
It increased Ceylinco Life’s cumulative investment in rewarding academic and extra-curricular achievement through 17 years of the Pranama scholarships programme to Rs 131 million.
Chief Guest, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri said that for the scholarship recipients, the event represented a consecration (Abhisheka) of their achievements, the pride (Abhimanaya) of being among the brightest students in the country and the challenge (Abhiyogaya) of living and learning from “the womb to the tomb.”
He said students seeking to take their rightful place as the future leaders of the country would need both competence and confidence to succeed.
Ceylinco Life Managing Director R. Renganathan said that besides acquiring the knowledge they need through education, the students of today would have to learn to work with others as part of a team when they seek to meet the expectations of future employers, and that the leadership traits they would need should be learnt in school.
Pointing out that knowledge alone would not be enough for success, he stressed the importance of engaging in extra-curricular activities while in school.
One of the highlights of the event was a speech made by Dr Anjali Pathirana, who had been a Pranama scholarship recipient in 2006 on how the scholarship inspired her to strive for greater achievement.
Ceylinco Life’s Pranama scholarships program presents cash rewards to children of policyholders who achieve the best results in their respective districts at the Year five scholarship examinations and at the GCE Ordinary Level, as well as to those who come first, second, third and fourth in their districts at the GCE Advanced Level.
The national merit awards are presented to young people for noteworthy non-academic achievements. Effective this year, Ceylinco Life doubled the one-time payment made to students placed second, third and fourth in their districts at the GCE Advanced Level examination.