The Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund (MTF) has announced a Special One-Time Scholarship Scheme to provide financial assistance to students who were severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the country from 28 November to 03 December 2025.
The special initiative, approved by the Board of Trustees of the Mahapola Trust Fund, aims to support students who lost one or both parents as a direct result of the disaster and consequently experienced a loss of family financial support.
Eligibility Criteria
The scheme is open to eligible students enrolled in:
- State Universities
- Advanced Technical Institutions
- Other institutions recognized under the University Grants Commission (UGC)
To qualify, applicants must have lost one or both parents due to Cyclone Ditwah and demonstrate the resulting financial hardship.
Three Categories of Assistance
The Special One-Time Scholarship Scheme will be implemented under three categories:
- Existing Mahapola Scholarship recipients who lost parent(s) due to Cyclone Ditwah.
- Non-scholarship students who lost parent(s) as a result of the disaster.
- Students receiving other scholarships or bursaries (non-Mahapola) who lost parent(s) due to Cyclone Ditwah.
Application Process
Eligible students are required to submit duly completed applications through their respective universities. Applications must be accompanied by the following mandatory certifications:
- Certification from the Grama Niladhari and the Divisional Secretary confirming the disaster-related death and the resulting loss of family financial support.
- Certification from the Registrar of the relevant University confirming the student’s registration and course of study.
The closing date for applications is 20 March 2026.
Call to Universities
All universities and relevant higher education institutions have been requested to immediately inform eligible students about this special scheme to ensure that affected individuals receive timely assistance.
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