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Notes from the first Board meeting, July 29th 2005

The Sri Henepola Gunaratana Scholarship Trust was registered with the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) by Trust Deed No.1993, under the Government of Sri Lanka Legislative Enactments Chapter Number 87, Trust Ordinance, on June 21st, 2005.

This is a very important day in the Buddhist Calendar, because it is Poson Poya, the second most important full moon day of the year.

The Board of Trustees are:

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Lakshmi de Zoysa, Ms.
Upali M Ekanayake, Mr.
Anula Wijesundere, Dr.
Ajith Colonne, Mr.
Mallika Samaranayake, Mrs.

 

We have also invited Mr. R. M. Amerasekera and Mr. Y. M. Samarakoon Bandara to serve as trustees and they have very kindly agreed. 

The Trust's main objectives are:

  1. To provide scholarships and/or financial assistance in meeting educational expenses such as text books, exercise books, educational materials, uniforms, tuition class fees, for poor students of underdeveloped areas, as a means of long-term development and poverty alleviation of the villagers.
  2. To provide financial and other assistance for any kind of human resource development, education, development of skills, improvement of knowledge and empowering people to be economically, financially and socially independent.

We plan to begin in Henepola and then extend to other underdeveloped villages in the Thumpane area in the Kandy District, such as Galiya, Minigamuwa, Galagedara, Galayawa, Rekatwala and Dehideniya. If the Trust takes on a life of it's own, then of course it can extend throughout the Island, to any poor area. But the second objective (in the Trust Deed) lists these areas for our initial focus.

There was some discussion at the meeting about broadening the scope of the Trust.  The following points were raised: 

  • In Sri Lanka, the formal education system (school and  University) is not the only way to get ahead in life. I suggest we open up the scholarship / financial assistance to villagers who may wish to attend a vocational training course or explore other educational opportunities. This will help develop skills that can enable villagers to earn a living without being forced to move out of the village and will build capacity within the villages, in the long run. For example, a university graduate will have little opportunity to find a suitable job in Hernepola. However, a skilled carpenter, mason, brick manufacturer, seamstress etc. may find enough work within the area.
  • Also, the cleverest people are not the only ones who need to earn a living.  Therefore we should give scholarships to the very poor, irrespective of how clever they are.
  • Thirdly, many people blossom later in life, if they have opportunities.

Lakshmi de Zoysa,

Chief Trustee
 

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