Increase in Medical Assistance from President’s Fund
President Chairs Meeting of Board of Governors of the President’s Fund
• 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 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 achieve the highest marks in each subject stream in each district, from 10 to 20.
Reducing Surgical Waiting Lists
Discussions were held to formulate an expedited programme, with the President’s Fund’s intervention, to reduce long waiting lists for heart 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, opportunities were explored to expand educational assistance for 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 district-wise and Divisional Secretariat-level data on Fund beneficiaries on the official website to ensure transparency.
Payments under the Mahapola Scholarship Scheme administered through the President’s Fund were increased by nearly twofold last year.
The Board of Governors also approved programmes to be implemented 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.