President’s Fund to allocate further support for Students

The Board of Governors of the President's Fund convened today (28) at the Presidential Secretariat, where one of the key topics discussed was expanding educational support for students, particularly those preparing for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations. 

The council emphasized the need to launch new programs while continuing and expanding existing initiatives, aiming to ensure that a larger number of students benefit from these programs funded through the President’s Fund.

In addition to educational support, the Board approved plans to extend the Fund’s services to rural areas through a more streamlined process coordinated via Divisional Secretariat offices. This initiative seeks to ensure that the benefits of the President’s Fund reach underserved communities and provide greater relief at the grassroots level.

The issue of surgical delays in government hospitals was another key topic discussed. To address this, the council proposed facilitating surgeries outside of regular working hours and offering incentives to medical staff involved in these after-hours procedures. The initiative, which is currently operational at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, is set to expand to the National Hospital in Colombo, the Kandy General Hospital, and the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital. This move aims to improve the efficiency of healthcare services and reduce patient waiting times.