I have pleasure in submitting my half yearly report for the period 1st July to 31st December 2006.

We have supported 21 students during the period under review. Out of these, three students have sat their G.C.E. Advanced Level examination. U.R.Nuwan Chamara and N.G.N.Pushpa Kumari have passed their examinations qualifying for university education and intend to register for external degrees, while the latter is presently doing a diploma course in ICT. Support for U.R.Nuwan Chamara and Lasantha Dinesh ceased w. e. f. July 2006. Four new students have been added to our list. They are Isuru Sandaruwan, Nayomi Madushani, Uthpala Gayathri and W.W.M. Madushanka Pathmakumara. We also funded P.T.Wijewickrama for two months from October 2006 – November 2006 but had to discontinue in December 2006 as I was unable to communicate with him at the address furnished by him. This was done with the concurrence of the Pahansila Committee and the supervisors. From the feedback I receive both verbally and in writing the students are doing well in their studies. One of our star students, Pathmika Dilangani Dharmasena is now attending a prestigious school in the city of Kandy having passed her G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination well. She is following the Commerce stream and her progress is very good.

A sum of Rs. 153,370/- was received during the year and a total of Rs.184,900/- dispersed. Detailed accounts can be perused in the website.

Student feedback still remains a problem area as many students are not in the habit of sending the required information without reminders. I intend to inculcate a sense of discipline in the students. It may sometimes turn out to be unpleasant (to me at the least) but it is important in monitoring their activities. Hope the PGCC will understand.

In spite of this draw back, being involved in this exercise is fulfilling. When I hear that the students are faring well in their studies the feeling that we have collectively done something for our younger folk is really overwhelming. My sincere thanks go out to the Pahansila Coordinating Committee for this wonderful opportunity of being a partner in this exercise.

I earnestly wish that the Pahansila Scholarship Project goes from strength to strength.

The Arizona Chapter of the Pahansila Scholarship Project stepped into its third year in April this year. It is time we looked at our track record so far. We have supported 22 students thus far. They came from all over the country each with a heart rending story of woe – all of them very good students but finding it hard to cope with their poverty. As we reflect on our achievements so far, we can be justifiably proud.

The project supported 16 students in the year under review including Pradeep Lakmal Gunatillake, Shadeekamali Dharmabandu, Nimalika Kumari Kariyawasam and Gloria Anthony Cross nominated this year. Out of these, three students, K.W.G.Lasantha Dinesh, U.R.Nuwan Chamara and N.G.N.Pushpa Kumari sat for their G.C.E. (A/L) exams in May 2006. The money sent in April covered their tuition fees for May as well. Funding for the first two has been suspended with effect from April 2006 while Pushpa Kumari will continue to be funded at the request of the donor as she wants to follow a computer course until her exam results are released. I have requested them to let me have their exam results as and when they are received.

A sum of Rs.81,200/- was received from USA during the year as can be seen in the accounts and there is a balance of Rs.42,329.84.

I am happy to announce that one of our beneficiaries, Pathmika Dilangani Dharmasena has passed her G.C.E. (O/L) examination held in December 2005 with 8 A’s and 2 C’s and is qualified to proceed to do her A/L’s. She is one of those students who was constantly in touch with me, sending her progress reports even without reminders. The donors are keen to fund her further and I am sure she will continue to shine in her studies.

Speaking on the feedback of the students and their supervisors, I must regretfully admit that it is not up to my expectations. The students have to be reminded regularly for their progress reports. This is not only time consuming, it also leaves me with a sense of despair. The supervisors, volunteers as they are, cannot be expected to keep a check on the regularity of their students’ feedback given the load of work they have to handle. However, with the concurrence of the Pahansila coordinators, I am planning to put a new reporting system in place that would bring everyone in line.

Once again I take this opportunity to thank the coordinators of the Pahansila Scholarship Project not only for conceiving the idea of helping needy children to carry on with their studies by meeting at least part of their financial needs but also making me a partner in this noble deed.

I take pleasure in sending this report for the period September 2004 to May 2005.

As the statement of accounts will reveal a total of Rs.95, 958.00 was received from the USA during this period. With accrued interest the balance at the bank stands at Rs.79, 353.13. Payments to students Chamila Sanjeevani Premasiri, H.M.Sachee Imasha Jayatilleke, Saumya SevvandhiWijeratne and Madushanka Rodrigo were stopped with effect from April 2005 as they sat for their G.C.E.Advanced Level examinations in June 2005. The money sent during the month of April 2005 covered their tuition fees for the month of May. As the examination commenced on the 3rd of June, it was decided not to fund them further. I have written to them requesting some feedback on how they performed at their examination.

In the meantime two new students were nominated in May. They are: Lalani Sandamini and Nipuna Pramodya for whom monies have been sent.

The scholarship programme had continued so far without any hiccups and none is expected in the future as well. However, I must admit that the feedback from the supervisors and the students are not all that encouraging. The students have to be written to requesting information regarding their performance etc in spite of the fact that they had been told to write to us every six months. The supervisors also tend to forget and we cannot blame them as they are doing this on a voluntary basis and with all their workload they cannot be expected to keep a tab on the scholarship activity. Hope things will improve with time. I have decided to telephone them frequently to keep the communication going and get them more interested on their charges.

From the feedback we have so far received from the students, this programme has been a boon to them as they are able to carry out their studies without the constraints they would otherwise face. In that sense this certainly is a meritorious act and I am happy to be associated with it.

Wishing the scholarship programme all the very best with more donors joining in.

I have pleasure in forwarding herewith my first report on the progress of the Scholarship Project since it was first inaugurated end of March 2004.

There are ten beneficiaries at the moment spread out across the island. Of them three are from Pilimatalawa, one from Bambaragahaela also close to Pilimatalawa, one from Etulgama, Talatuoya, one from Peradeniya, two from Mahabulankulama in Anuradhapura and two from Kekirawa. They are students either in the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) or G.C.E. (Advanced Level) classes and were selected from personal contacts. However they were found deserving by the donors after the perusal of their family circumstances as well as their performance in their respective classes. Out of these only is one is a male. However no gender-wise distinction is made.

I have received a sum of Rs. 114,859/- up to end of September 2004 out of which a sum of Rs.45900/- has been disbursed. The monies are deposited in a Savings Account at the Seylan Bank, Kandy. The students have their accounts either with the People's Bank or the National Savings Bank in their respective areas and the monthly instalments are transferred to their account through their branches in Kandy. The instalments are sent to the beneficiaries on the 23rd of every month so that the money can be withdrawn by the end of the month or at the beginning of the following month. The way these monies were disbursed during the period is shown separately with the balance lying at the Bank as at end September 2004. So far I have not had any problem except in one instance where two instalments were supposed to have been credited to one account by the bank, in spite of it being sent to two separate accounts. This matter is being rectified through the intervention of the student supervisor. The sad part is that one student's instalment has been delayed. The supervisor advised me that this matter has been resolved. In the meantime remittances for the month of September have already been sent on the 22nd.

There are seven student supervisors overseeing all these ten students. The commitment shown by these supervisors are noteworthy in that they are doing this voluntarily and at their spare time. In spite of some teething problem exist a few of the supervisors have even gone to the extent of presenting the Savings Pass Books to the beneficiary students at the school assembly thereby drawing the attention of the entire school to the yeomen services rendered to the students by the scholarship programme. This is significant in that it is customary in traditional Sri Lankan societies to acknowledge and appreciate good gestures of this kind. It also reflects their value system.

I had the opportunity to speak to some of the parents of these children and they gratefully acknowledged this kind gesture and thanked the organizers and donors profusely. Prior to the award of this scholarship, some of them were even contemplating of stopping their children from school owing to the financial crisis they were facing. This indeed has taken a load off their shoulders and they can now concentrate on their other burning problems.

News of this good work is gradually spreading and there had been a number of enquiries. Even the Bank Manager of the National Savings Bank, who noticed the regular remittances inquired whether it will be possible to extend this scholarship to a needy students who has passed with three straight "A's" in his G.C.E. Advanced Level examination and will be entering the Sri Jayawardenapura University to do his degree in Management. My response to her was that I would pass on the information to the conveners of the programme.

My earnest wish is that this programme should go from strength with more donors joining to support the needy children.