“Viru Sisu Pradeepa” scholarships are awarded for Grade 5 scholarship exam achievers

The ‘Viru Sisu Pradeepa’ scholarship awarding ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena at the Defence Services College on 30th July 2015.

Under the seventh phase of the ‘Viru Sisu Pradeepa’ scholarship scheme held today, a total of 230 children of the tri-services and Police war heroes were awarded scholarships. Among the recipients 153 students were from Army families, 19 were from Navy families, 15 were from from Air Force families and 43 were from Police families. Each of them received Rs. 25,000/= as a bank deposit, a schoolbag with books and stationery and a mini Oxford dictionary and a till for saving purposes.

Many measures have been taken to enhance the welfare of war heroes in recognition of the sacrifices made in the defence of the motherland, and the "Viru Sisu Pradeepa" Scholarship Scheme founded in 1985 is one such measure implemented for the express purpose of assisting the education of children of war heroes. It is held annually to appreciate and encourage the children of tri-service war heroes and the Police who excelled in the Grade 5 scholarship examination.

The State Minister of Defence, Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene, the Secretary Defence, Mr B.M.U.D Basnayaka, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunathilaka, the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijeguneratne, Senior Officials of the MOD, Tri Service and the Police including large number of parents and students were also present at the distribution of the ‘Viru Sisu Pradeepa’ scholarships.