The “R B Nishshanka Pranama Higher Education Scholarship Fund” (RBN-HES Fund) was established in 2020 to help underprivileged students who were selected to a state university, and had attended a school located within the Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat area in Moneragala district, to follow a degree course. Members of the Fund are former students of Mo/Malwattawala National School, Wellawaya. Currently there are 65 members. The Fund is managed by an Executive Committee comprising of key officials of the Fund. The Fund is named after Mr. R B Nishshanka, an eminent former principal of the Malwattawala National School who untiringly committed himself to promote school education in the area. The Fund is registered at the Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat under registration No 251/2020.
There are six schools that conduct GCE (Advanced Level) classes located within the administrative area of the Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat. They are Malwattawala, J M Kumaradasa, Ethiliwewa, Buduruwagala, Weherayaya, and Kudaoya schools. Generally, about 350 – 400 students sit for the GCE (Advanced Level) exam every year from these schools and about 50 – 60 students secure admissions to state universities. We call applications from these students through the principal of the respective school for consideration of granting scholarships. The basic criterion of selection is the income level of the family. In 2023, students of families, whose income is less than Rs. 240,000/- per year were eligible to apply. A scholarship is worth Rs. 30,000/- and is disbursed in 3 installments of Rs. 10,000/- per year.
The scholarship program was launched in 2020 by awarding 8 scholarships. We were able to grant 10 scholarships each in 2021 and 2022 bringing the total number of scholarships awarded to 28 by end of 2022. In 2023 alone, we were able to grant 28 new scholarships worth Rs. 840,000/-. All scholarships granted up to 2022 were financed by sponsors. However, in 2023, out of 28 scholarships 20 were granted from the investment income of the Fund, which is built with donations received from well-wishers. The value of the Scholarship Fund stood at around Rs. 4.0 million by end of March 2023, which is invested in Fixed Deposits at state banks and in Government Securities. We would be able to grant around 20 scholarships annually in upcoming years utilizing the income of the Fund. However, under existing socio-economic conditions, we understand that the number of scholarships granted annually and the value of a scholarship is not sufficient. Therefore, we are working towards augmenting the Fund so that we would be able to grant more scholarships and also increase the value.
Therefore, any contribution to the RBN-HES Fund will be greatly appreciated. It would be a meritorious deed as well as an investment towards educating talented students from low-income families in a rural area. We assure that the entirety of the donation and the income from such a donation will strictly be used to grant scholarships. Administration and event expenses if any will be financed outside the Fund. The operation of the Fund will be continuously audited by an internal auditor and annually by a professionally qualified auditor. Hence, we can assure that the income generated from donations will go to a deserving students for an indefinite period into the future.
Your donation may be forwarded online to the Fund’s Account as stated below:
Account Name: R B Nishshanka Higher Education Scholarship Fund
Bank and Branch: Bank of Ceylon, Wellawaya
Account No: 85489425
Finally, we take this opportunity to offer our utmost gratitude to sponsors of scholarships and contributors to the scholarship fund.
R B NISHSHANKA PRANAMA HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND 