Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Presidential Fund, which had been misused by privileged groups during the previous administration, has now been brought under proper management by the present government.

She made these remarks while attending a programme held yesterday (14) at the Kandy District Secretariat Auditorium to felicitate high achievers of the GCE Advanced Level Examination from the Central Province.

At the event, 361 students from Kandy, Matale, and Nuwara Eliya districts who obtained outstanding results in six subject streams at the 2023 and 2024 A/L examinations were awarded scholarships worth Rs. 100,000 each. A total of Rs. 36.1 million from the Presidential Fund was allocated for this initiative.

The Prime Minister further noted that, under the current government, the Presidential Fund is being utilised for the very purpose for which it was established — reaching citizens in rural areas and providing them with much-needed facilities.

She added that the Presidential Fund is now engaged in programmes that go beyond medical assistance, including initiatives that support children’s education, thereby contributing to the creation of a knowledgeable, skilled, and empowered future generation.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya also emphasised that the government is preparing to introduce new education reforms aimed at producing citizens with open minds, capable of critical thinking, and able to view issues from multiple perspectives. “Our goal is to create a generation of humanistic citizens who can adapt to a changing world and become agents of change themselves,” she said.

Speaking further, she noted:
“When we talk about the National Fund, we often hear about how the Presidential Fund was misused in the past. Privileged groups exploited it to increase their own benefits.

“Today, that situation has completely changed. We are proud that 100% of the fund is now being used for its true purpose. The fund is now accessible to the people, allowing them to obtain its benefits in their own localities.

“The government has identified human resource development as a top priority. That is why we invest in education — not just financially, but in every possible aspect — so that we can produce citizens who can think differently, see the world from every angle, and contribute to shaping a better future.”