ACBC National Educational Council - Nana Kirana Thilina Book Voucher Awards Ceremony
National Educational Council of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress ( ACBC ) successfully awarded Book Vouchers to Bright & Deserving Students, of selected leading Schools under the ‘Nana Kirana Educational Thilina Awards Scheme’, for the second successive year. This year the function was also amalgamated to Commemorate the 139 Birth Anniversary of Dr C.W.W. Kannangara, ‘the Father of Free Education’ in Sri Lanka. The function was held at the ACBC main auditorium on Monday 16th October, 2023, at 9.00 am. Hon. Minister of Education Dr Susil Premajayantha graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The event was headed by Prof. Susiripala Malimboda President and Mr Anura Serasingha Hon. Secretary of ‘Nana Kirana Educational Thilina Awards Scheme’ of the Educational Council, under the patronage of the President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Mr. Chandra Nimal Wakishta. Two of the grandsons of Dr C.W.W. Kannanagara, Mr. Nisanka
Senaviratne and Mr. Sanjaya Senaviratne were also invited for this very special occasion. Two prize winning Orators, Students from Nalanda College and Devi Balika Vidyalaya namely Keviru Senaviratne and Maheli Jayanima delivered speeches expressing the invaluable services rendered by Dr C.W.W. Kannangara who was the
Minister of Education in 1945, he then implemented the recommendations of the Educational reforms successfully. He introduced Education free of charge for all students, and ensured that every student was provided with instructions in the religion of his/her parents, to protect teachers from exploitation by school managers by having their wages paid directly by the government, and to made adequate provisions for adult education in the country.
This Year the Education Council of ACBC selected a total of 13 leading Government Schools namely Ananda College, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Visakha Vidyalaya, Devi Balika Vidyalaya,Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Yashodara Balika Vidyalaya, Ratnawali Balika Vidyalaya, Nalanda Vidyalaya, Asoka Vidyalaya, D.S. Senannayake Vidyalaya, Presidents College – Rajagiriya in the vicinity of ACBC and extended to two other Schools namely Richmond College, Galle and C.W.W. Kananagara Madya Vidyalaya, which Dr C.W.W. Kanangara had is education and the school he founded respectively.
The prize winners were Bright & Deserving students who have successfully passed the GCE OL Examination in 2022 and presently in GCE AL Year 12 Classes. They were recommended by the respective Principals of the schools. Nana Kirina Educational Thilina Book Voucher Awarded to each student is worth Rs 5,000.00. It is arranged through a leading Book Seller Sarasavi Book Shop and all Book Vouchers were Sponsored by generous donors living in Sri Lanka and overseas. 130 Bright recipient students were given the opportunity to select their own Educational Text Books from Sarasavi Book Depots. This gesture initiated by the National Educational Council of ACBC would no doubt immensely benefit these bright students especially at a time when parents are facing financial constrains.