Ceylinco Life recently hosted its 21st annual ‘Pranama Scholarships’ programme via a virtual ceremony during which 147 young Sri Lankans who had excelled at public exams and extracurricular activities were presented scholarships exceeding Rs 11.1 million in value.
The ceremony which was livestreamed via Zoom for the second consecutive year, saw the participation of over 200 pupils, parents and teachers. Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya graced the online event as the guest speaker.
Current scholarship winners Miss M. B. Amandi Dilshara Samarawickrama placed first in the Galle district and Mr Thanaraj Sundarbavan placed first in the Jaffna district at the GCE Advanced Level examination also addressed the audience during the ceremony.
Ceylinco Life ‘Pranama Scholarships’ are presented to policyholder’s children who achieve the best results in their respective districts at the Year 5 scholarship examination, the GCE Ordinary Level, and the GCE Advanced Level as well as to those who excel at the national level in sports, invention, drama, cultural activities, or display other special skills. The Company also pays special cash awards to policyholder’s children who are placed second, third and fourth at district level at the GCE Advanced Level examinations.
The latest edition of ‘Pranama Scholarships’ rewarded 28 students who excelled at the 2021 Year 5 scholarship examination with Rs 120,000 each, payable in instalments over five years. Another 25 students who excelled at the 2020 G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examinations will each receive Rs 84,000, payable monthly over two years, while 25 students placed 1st in their districts at the 2020 G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations will receive scholarships worth Rs 144,000 each, payable over a three-year period.
Furthermore, one-time payments of Rs 30,000 each were presented to 65 students placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th in their districts at the 2020 GCE Advanced Level examination.
Another four students who excelled in sports, drama, invention or creative fields in 2020 and 2021 at national or international level were presented merit awards, each to the value of Rs 35,000.
Additionally, 506 students who were ranked in the top 10 in all three public examinations at a district level are to be presented with certificates of appreciation at their respective branches, shortly.
Since its inception in 2002, the Pranama Scholarships scheme has resulted in the awarding of Rs 166 million in scholarships to 2,887 students, and with the 21st edition of scholarships presented in 2022 that figure has reached Rs 177.1 million and benefited 3,034 young Sri Lankans. Ceylinco Life launched the programme to reduce the education-related financial burden on parents. Many past Pranama Scholarship winners are now doctors, lawyers, engineers, or in other pivotal positions that contribute to the development of society.
Adjudged the ‘Most Valuable Life Insurance Brand in Sri Lanka’ in 2022 by Brand Finance, Sri Lanka’s Service Brand of the Year by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) in 2021 and the winner of the SLIM Kantar Peoples Award as the Most Popular Life Insurance Company in Sri Lanka for the 16th consecutive year, Ceylinco Life has been the country’s leading life insurer for more than half of the 34 years it has been in existence. Other accolades won in respect of 2021 include the ‘Most Popular Service Provider’ in Sri Lanka’s Life Insurance industry in 2021 by LMD, the ‘Most Valuable Life Insurance Brand’ in Sri Lanka by Brand Finance, one of the 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka by the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL) in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and one of the 10 Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka’s Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector by Great Place to Work.
Ceylinco Life has close to a million lives covered by active policies and provides innovative life insurance solutions which offer protection while de-risking the goals and ambitions of the Company’s policyholders.