The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a new scholarship program titled “Presidential Scholarship – For a Brighter Future,” aimed at providing students who excel in the G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) examination with opportunities to pursue their first degree at foreign and local non-state universities.
The decision, announced by the Department of Government Information, is part of a broader initiative to cultivate a skilled and developed human resource pool in the country.
Under the first phase of the program, 200 scholarships will be awarded starting from the 2025 academic year for students to study at recognised foreign universities for a duration of up to four years.
In addition, the cabinet also approved a proposal to offer scholarships to another 500 students to pursue degree programs at local non-state (private) universities. For these students, the government will cover 50% of the total course fee, up to a maximum of LKR 2 million per student for the entire degree program.
Selection for the scholarship program will be based on the z-score of the G.C.E. A/L examination. The initiative specifically targets high-achieving students who do not gain admission into the state university system.
The proposal was presented to the Cabinet by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies, and received full approval to proceed with implementation.
