Scholarships for Children of Lottery Sellers
Scholarships for Children of Lottery Sellers in Central Province through President’s Fund
“We salute the contribution made by lottery sellers to the struggle to build the nation.” — Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne
The Central Province program of the educational scholarship scheme provided by the President’s Fund for children of low-income lottery sellers was held at the Kandy District Secretariat under the patronage of Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne.
The program was implemented as a gesture of appreciation to lottery sellers, in recognition of their financial contributions to the President’s Fund through the sale of lottery tickets.
The scholarship program covers schoolchildren from Grade One to Advanced Level across all provinces.
Scholarships were awarded to children of lottery sellers in the Central Province.
The program also provided educational assistance to schoolchildren from the Mahaiyawa Poornawatta (West) Grama Niladhari Division.
A total of 106 students received scholarships and educational assistance at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne said the occasion expressed gratitude for the full contribution made by lottery sellers to the struggle to build the nation.
Speaking further, Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne said:
“Since 2025, the President’s Fund has been engaged in a major service as a fund dedicated entirely to the people of this country. So far in 2026, the President’s Fund has spent Rs. 6,115 million on these programs.
This includes Rs. 856 million for medical treatment, as well as assistance for self-employment and vulnerable families. Financial assistance has also been provided to 41 religious institutions and even for the staging of cultural pageants.
Following Cyclone Ditwah last year, Rs. 2,060 million was provided to 206,001 schoolchildren affected by the disaster, at Rs. 10,000 per child. In 2026 alone, Rs. 2,666 million has been allocated for the Mahapola Scholarship Scheme.
The scholarships awarded to students who achieved outstanding results at the 2023/2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, previously covering those ranked from first to 10th place, were expanded in 2025 to cover students ranked from first to 20th place.
Think about where this vast amount of money comes from. These funds come from the 20,000 of you who sell lottery tickets and work in this profession. When you calculate the figures, you contribute more than Rs. 30 billion annually to the Government and to the country’s development.
The Development Lotteries Board contributes Rs. 6 billion annually to the Government’s Consolidated Fund, Rs. 1.5 billion to the Inland Revenue Department, and a further Rs. 600 million to the Ranaviru Fund, Kidney Fund, health development, social services and farmers’ funds.
All this money comes from you, the 20,000 people who sell lottery tickets. You are not ordinary people. Just like the war heroes, health heroes and national heroes, you too are a group of silent heroes who perform a great service to the nation. I am grateful to you for that. I salute your full contribution to the struggle to build the nation.”
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hansaka Wijemuni
“You must seek knowledge through education. Today, knowledge presents a significant challenge.
Knowledge extends beyond the books we study. Therefore, we want to help you become people who actively seek knowledge.
Along with that knowledge system and the skills you acquire, you must also develop discipline. Skills without discipline are of little use to the country.
You are embarking on a journey as students towards making this one of the most developed countries in the world. Therefore, a considerable part of the responsibility for transforming Sri Lanka into such a developed nation rests with you.
The Development Lotteries Board, as well as the National Lotteries Board, are investing through this program. The President’s Fund is also investing.
It must be said that this is one of the greatest investments we can make, greater than building factories, roads or other development projects in this country.
Therefore, let us reap the benefits of this investment. At the same time, let us give those benefits back to our country.”
Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr Prasanna Gunasena
“Within our linear education system, a certain number of children fall by the wayside. They possess certain skills, but there is no yardstick to measure those skills. What happens to those who are left behind?
That is why the present Government introduced new education reforms.
We believe that, through the education reforms that began in Grade One, children with this type of thinking and abilities will no longer be left behind. We will be able to produce children who can contribute to society in one way or another. That is what we expect to achieve through the education reforms being introduced after 13 years.
We can carry out as much physical development as we want. That is not a major challenge, and the Government has already begun that program. But human resource development and transforming the way people think are not easy.
Therefore, I urge all of you to make the maximum use of these benefits, obtain a good education and become productive citizens who can contribute to the country.”
Central Province Governor Dr Harsha Suranga Fernando, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the President’s Fund Roshan Gamage, Development Lotteries Board Chairman/Chief Executive Officer M.R.H. Swarnathilaka, and National Lotteries Board Chairman M.D. Cyril Anthony Perera also addressed the gathering.
Central Province Chief Secretary G.H.M.A. Premasinghe, provincial public representatives, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta, government officials, and heads of the security forces were also present at the occasion.