Increase in Medical Assistance from the President’s Fund
Focus on Expanding Educational Scholarships and Reducing Surgical Waiting Lists
The Board of Governors of the President’s Fund convened this morning (10) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The Board of Governors comprises seven members: the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, the Secretary to the President and two members appointed by the President.
The key matters discussed and decisions taken at today’s meeting of the Board of Governors are as follows:
Increase in Medical Assistance
In line with committee recommendations, it was decided to revise and increase the medical assistance grants currently provided. It was further agreed to relax the existing stringent criteria for granting medical assistance and to simplify the process, enabling patients receiving treatment at any hospital registered under the Ministry of Health to obtain such assistance. Accordingly, medical assistance will be granted solely on the recommendation of a medical practitioner registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council.
Rs. 100,000 Grant for University Students with Special Needs
The Board of Governors decided to provide a one-off grant of Rs. 100,000 to university students with special needs to support their educational expenses and basic requirements.
Recognition of Outstanding GCE Advanced Level Performers
On the President’s proposal, it was decided to double the number of scholarships awarded to students who obtain the highest marks in each subject stream in every district, increasing the number from 10 to 20.
Reducing Surgical Waiting Lists
Discussions were held on formulating an expedited programme, with the intervention of the President’s Fund, to reduce the long waiting lists for heart surgeries and cataract surgeries in government hospitals. Attention was also directed towards strengthening the hospital system under this initiative.
Disaster Relief
The provision of a special grant of Rs. 10,000 from the President’s Fund for schoolchildren from families affected by Cyclone ‘Ditwah’ has already commenced, benefiting more than 54,000 students to date.
In addition, possibilities were explored to increase educational assistance provided to children from families affected by disasters while abroad, families of kidney patients, and families of individuals engaged in high-risk occupations.
Accountability and Transparency
The financial position of the President’s Fund has reached its highest level in history. Instructions were issued to publish, on the official website, district-wise and Divisional Secretariat-level data on beneficiaries of the Fund in order to ensure transparency.
Payments under the Mahapola Scholarship Scheme administered through the President’s Fund were increased by nearly twofold last year. Approval was also granted by the Board of Governors to implement programmes in 2025 to expand benefits to a larger number of recipients.
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President’s Fund and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Professor J. R. P. Jayakody, former Auditor General Sarath Chandrasiri Mayadunne, along with senior officials of the President’s Fund, were present at the meeting.
