The conclusion of the seventh annual presentation of Ceylinco ‘Pranama’ Scholarships by Ceylinco Life has brought the number of scholarships awarded by the life insurance leader to 857.

Another 104 scholarships to students who sat the GCE Advanced Level examination in 2007 are to be presented next year due to the delay in the release of their examination results.

Students from all parts of the country, school principals, teachers and parents participated at this glamorous award ceremony at the BMICH last week.

Ceylinco Life has to date awarded Pranama Scholarships worth Rs.30 million making a significant contribution towards motivating future leaders, one of the key objectives of the programme. ‘Ceylinco Pranama’ is one of the main components of the company’s ‘Life Rewards’, portfolio of special benefits to policyholders and the community.

Addressing the scholarship awards ceremony, Ceylinco Life Chief Executive Director R. Renganathan said: “Ceylinco Life looks forward to this event as it gives us a great deal of satisfaction to support the future leaders of our country. It makes us proud that we are able to make a contribution to the education of these children.”

These scholarships are intended to enhance one of the key factors of a child’s future education, at a time when the cost of living is high and parents are finding it difficult to spend on tuition fees and other education related needs, he said.

Examinations Commissioner Anura Edirisinghe who was the Guest of Honour commented that educating children to face the challenges arising from socio—economic changes is critical to the country’s future. He paid tribute to Ceylinco Life for the support that has been given over the years for the education of children and for easing the financial burden on parents and the state.

Ceylinco Pranama Scholarships were presented to 50 policyholders’ children who achieved best results in their respective districts at the Year 5 Scholarship Examination in 2006 and 2007, to 23 who sat the GCE Ordinary Level in 2006 and to 10 who excelled at the national level in sports, culture, arts, drama or invention.

Ceylinco Life also presented special cash awards to the students who achieved the highest marks islandwide in Physical Science,Biology, Commerce and Arts at the 2007 GCE (A/L) examinations irrespective of whether or not they are the children of policyholders.

Launched in 2001 and first presented in January 2002, the Ceylinco Pranama Scholarships are awarded by Ceylinco Life to high achieving children of the company’s policyholders but extends to children of non policyholders too. The scheme seeks to groom tomorrow’s leaders by rewarding achievements in academic and extra curricular activities.

One of many benefits available to Ceylinco Life policyholders, the four-tiered Pranama Scholarship Scheme underscores the importance attributed by the company to education, which is one the key areas of intervention in the Ceylinco ‘Life Rewards’ programme. Besides the Pranama ScholarshipsScheme, Ceylinco Life has also established the Ceylinco Aloka Fund for education, which pays up to Rs 54,000 in 36 equal monthly installments on the death of an active policyholder in the low income segment whose children are undergoing primary, secondary or tertiary education.