The President’s Fund has decided to provide monthly scholarships to the school-going children of low-income lottery sellers, recognising the financial pressure on a workforce whose ticket sales help fund the scheme itself.
The decision was taken at a discussion held on Wednesday (May 20) at the Presidential Secretariat between the Secretary to the President’s Fund and Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, and officials of the National Lotteries Board and the Development Lotteries Board, The Island reported, citing the President’s Media Division.
According to the report, the governing board of the President’s Fund has granted approval to extend scholarships to children of low-income lottery sellers as an additional step alongside existing assistance schemes.
Officials noted that the National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board contribute significantly to the President’s Fund, but that the living conditions of lottery sellers — who generate that revenue at street level — have remained largely unchanged. The two boards both expressed willingness to support the new initiative.
The programme will be implemented through Divisional Secretariats, the Presidential Secretariat said.
Officials present at the meeting included the Chairman of the National Lotteries Board M. D. C. Anton Perera, General Manager of the National Lotteries Board A. M. Arif, and General Manager of the Development Lotteries Board W. K. A. A. Jayarathne.
The scheme adds to the President’s Fund welfare track, which earlier this month was used to extend support to Janashakthi children’s healthcare — both initiatives directing resources to informal-sector and lower-income households.
Specific eligibility criteria, scholarship amounts and the application window for the new programme have not yet been published.
