Increased Mahapola credited

The increased Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship allowance, introduced under the 2026 Budget, was credited to students’ bank accounts from yesterday (10), authorities confirmed.

Chairperson of the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund, retired Justice Vijith Kumara Malalgoda, said that Rs. 10,000 for the month of January had been deposited accordingly.

The monthly allowance, which previously stood at Rs. 7,500, has now been raised to Rs. 10,000. The latest revision marks the second increase within a year.

Officials noted that between April 2025 and January 2026, the allowance was revised twice, with increments of Rs. 2,500 on each occasion. As a result, the scholarship amount has doubled from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 under the current Government.

The Mahapola scholarship scheme, which supports undergraduates from low-income families, is jointly funded by the Treasury, the Mahapola Trust Fund and the University Grants Commission.

Under the present funding structure, 48 per cent of the allowance is borne by the Fund, while the remaining 52 per cent is covered by the Government through the University Grants Commission.

The increase was proposed in the 2026 Budget as part of broader measures aimed at strengthening support for higher education students amid rising living costs.

Source - The Morning