Ceylinco Life upholds power of education with 160 new ‘Pranama’ scholarships

• Life insurance leader’s 18th disbursement takes total commitment to Rs. 143 m; 2568 students benefitted
  
   

The power of education to bring life-changing change not only to the individual but to communities and the nation was a recurring point of emphasis when Ceylinco Life presented 160 new scholarships to bright young Sri Lankans under the Company’s ‘Pranama’ programme.

The life insurance market leader’s 18th annual scholarships presentation saw Rs. 12 million being disbursed to students that excelled at the Year 5 scholarship examination, the GCE Ordinary Level, the GCE Advanced Level and at the national or international level in sports, the arts or invention. It took the total number of students benefitted to date to 2,568, and the Company’s financial commitment to the program to Rs. 143 million. 

Addressing the event as Chief Guest, University of Moratuwa Vice Chancellor Professor Kapila Perera stressed that parents must always bear in mind that the skills and achievements of their children can change the lives of the parents themselves, their families, relatives, their teachers, principals and the community at large.

Elaborating on the importance of socio-emotional skills in the creation of a balanced and mature society, Professor Perera paid tribute to Ceylinco Life’s Pranama scholarships program, which he said encompassed all aspects pertaining to socio-emotional skills by encouraging and rewarding educational achievements as well as extra-curricular pursuits. Advising the scholarship recipients to follow the precept of “comply and complain” found in military training, he urged them not to dwell on what they don’t have or what others have, but to focus on their own abilities and to ensure they love what they choose to do.

Ceylinco Life Managing Director/CEO Thushara Ranasinghe pointed out that while every Sri Lankan child has the right to free education thanks to the efforts of people like C. W. W. Kannangara, the reality today is that parents have to work extremely hard and spend large amounts of money to make their children winners, a fact that prompted Ceylinco Life to set aside part of its profits every year to provide Pranama scholarships to deserving students.

Emphasising that the love and security provided by family is invaluable, and that the responsibilities of parents extend far beyond the schooling of their children, Ranasinghe said the responsibility of the recipients of Pranama scholarships is to honour and look after their parents in their old age.

Designated “tomorrow’s leaders” by Ceylinco Life, bright students from every district of the country, along with their parents and teachers, filled the main hall of the BMICH where the Pranama scholarships were presented on 9 February.

Among the scholarship recipients were 29 students that excelled at the 2018 Year 5 scholarship examination that each received Rs. 120,000 payable in instalments over five years; 26 students who excelled at the 2017 G.C.E. (O/L), that each received Rs 84,000 payable monthly over two years; 25 students placed 1st in their districts at the 2017 G.C.E. (A/L) examination that each received Rs. 144,000 and nine students that excelled in sports, drama, invention or creative fields in 2017 and 2018 that were presented merit awards to the value of Rs. 35,000 each.

Additionally, one-time payments of Rs. 30,000 each were presented to 71 students placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in their districts at the 2017 GCE (A/L) examination.

A new feature introduced this year was the presentation of free life insurance under a policy titled ‘Guardian’ to all 96 Pranama scholarship winners in the GCE (A/L) category. The key benefit of this policy is that in the event of the premature death or permanent disability of the parent, the student will receive a monthly sum of Rs. 4,000 to support the continuation of his or her education.

The day after the ceremony at the BMICH, events were held at branch level recognising another 600 students who were ranked in the top 10 in all districts at the Year 5 Scholarship examinations, GCE (O/L) and GCE (A/L) examinations. These students were presented certificates of appreciation along with gift packs from Ceylinco Life.

Adjudged Sri Lanka’s Best Life Insurer in 2018 for the fifth consecutive year by World Finance, Ceylinco Life has been the market leader in Sri Lanka’s life insurance industry for 15 of the 31 years it has been in operation. The company has close to a million lives covered by active policies and is acknowledged as a benchmark in the local insurance industry for innovation, product research and development, customer service, professional development and corporate social responsibility.