CDB Empowers Education with Sisudiri Scholarships
With education being a cornerstone of Citizens Development Business Finance PLC’s social responsibility agenda, the CDB Sisudiri Scholarship Programme Season 8 conferred a total of 46 scholarships to high achieving students who have excelled in national examinations. Under the aegis of Chief Guests, Consultant Child Psychiatrist Professor Hemamali Perera and Chairman of CDB Herschel Gunawardena, CDB hosted this much looked forward to event within the old world charm of the Tower Hall Colombo 10, felicitating these young students who have immense potential to contribute impressively to the future of the country.
As the CEO, Mahesh Nananyakkara elaborated, “For CDB, education is a sustainable resource that we have always nurtured. We recognise this as being the foundation for building a vibrant and dynamic nation. It is corporate stewards like us who must make it our responsibility to ensure that younger generations have access to quality education. We must give them the means to continue their education without economic hurdles.” Speaking to the 46 scholars and their parents, he stated that the younger generation believe wholeheartedly in the advantages of education. “Although education is a right, it is also a privilege which has been gifted to you. There are thousands of young people around the world who have absolutely no access to any form of education. You must take this gift and use it wisely.”
Under Sisudiri Scholarship programme CDB has thus far conferred scholarships to 324 students at a total investment of Rs 14 Mn, having held this ceremony eight times. The students are high achieving young people who sit for the GCE Ordinary Level as well as those who excel at the Grade Five Scholarship examination. “By granting these scholarships, we are ensuring that these children will continue their education,” explained the CEO. “Over the years, we have been proud to witness our scholars enter some of Sri Lanka’s top universities, which in itself is an intensely competitive process given that only the crème de la crème of young people gain access to national universities.”
Those scholars who excel in the Grade Five Scholarship examination receive a cash grant of Rs 50,000 until they complete their GCE O/Level examination, while those who showcase high achievement in the GCE O/Level examination, are presented with a cash grant of Rs 30,000 for the two year tenure of the GCE A/Level examination. The cash grants are given to the parents of these students instead of crediting money into a child’s account to ensure that a direct benefit is garnered to the students. Immense appreciation in the scholarship was well evident when Rahula Maha Vidyalaya Malabe student Isuri Maduwanthi’s father expressed his heartfelt thoughts stating, “Financing education for my children has been a huge financial burden. There have been times I’ve wondered how we are going to meet the expenses that arise and keep my children in school. I’m very proud that my daughter has proved that she really deserves this scholarship and am very grateful to CDB for assuring that she is able to continue her education without a problem.”
Professor Perera reiterated that children are the future and hence require constant support and guidance if they are to become well balanced adults contributing to society and national development. “CDB deserves much praise for supporting education with the Sisudiri scholarship programme, because in today’s context, parents are particularly concerned about their child’s welfare, education in particular. However, funding education can be challenging for most parents. A happy family, fuelled by a value-driven home culture will create a multi-skilled child. Therefore, the parents’ responsibility is to ensure the child’s happiness, while encouraging them to excel in their education.”
As a formidable leading player among the top Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) in the country serving both rural and urban communities, the 61 outlets spanning all major cities in the island has enabled CDB, with its unrelenting emphasis to enrich people’s lives, to gain an insightful focus on the fundamental needs of the nation. Education undoubtedly is a harbinger of change, not only in attitude and transforming social fabric, but also in empowering individuals to gain economic upliftment and achieve career aspirations, while contributing towards the larger national purview.
