The Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund will be increased following the upcoming General Elections, Minister of Higher Education Bandula Gunawardena said at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department yesterday, He added the government understands that there is a need to increase the payment made to students who are entitled to the Mahapola Scholarship.
Currently, the Mahapola Scholarship Trust Fund has Rs. 10.5 billion, he said.
In addition to this, in response to the grievance from students claiming that they do not get the fund on time, the government has taken steps to make the payment on the 15th of every month commencing from January, 2020. The University Grants Commission selects students for the scholarship that is awarded in two different bases as merit scholarship to students who scored high marks at the G.C.E Advanced Level Examination and an ordinary scholarship to students entering the universities from low-income families.