Earlier, without access to digital media and international information, students in Sri Lanka studied in a conventional framework with little to no knowledge about the opportunities outside their immediate environment. Today, the scenario has changed. State university students have more scholarship and funding scheme options than ever. Yet, thousands of them still miss out, often because they never hear about them on time.

A major reason for this lies in the lack of a proper system to inform students. Information about scholarships are scattered across countless websites, social media and other platforms, making them inaccessible to the public. Students from rural areas are particularly disadvantaged, with almost no access to proper guidance.

Here’s what many students get wrong and miss out on State university scholarship opportunities

1. Mahapola Scholarship

The Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund is a major scheme for students in state universities. This helps many low-income students to access equal education but the money is fairly small and does not cover all full and living costs.

Some common misconceptions about Mahapola Scholarship are: “Everyone automatically gets Mahapola when they enter university”, “Mahapola money comes every month on time”, “Mahapola is based only on A/L results” and “If a student repeats a year, they still get Mahapola without issues.”

Though this is one of the most sought-after financial support schemes in Sri Lanka, many students are not aware of the rules behind it, until their payments get stopped. If you are to apply for Mahapola, here are some conditions you need to agree to.

• Paymens are based on your University’s recommendation. They don’t send money automatically. Your university must confirm your academic progress each month.

You get up to 10 installments per academic year (SLIATE students get only 9 installments) and payments continue only for the official duration of your study programme. If the university reports poor progress, missing classes, or issues in your academic status, Mahapola can pause payments.

• You must be a full-time student

You will not be paid if:

• You skip lectures regularly
• You are not attending tutorials or practicals
• You are not fully participating in your course
• You have abandoned or dropped out of the programme

• You Cannot Take Another Scholarship at the Same Time

• Changing Courses or Not Attending Can Cancel Your Scholarship

• Postponing Studies Is Allowed Only Once

2. University Specific State Scholarships

• SeKuRa is a scholarship by the University of Colombo that gives Rs.5000 per month for twelve months per annum.

The students will receive this scholarship until they complete their University education. Eligibility criteria such as being undergraduate students in identified state universities, having a low annual family income, etc were considered.

• The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) also has a “University Bursary” that covers 50% of the tuition paid in the previosu years.

For this scholarship, OUSL students must need to meet a eligibility criteria where your income ceilings are assessed.

For more information, visit Scholarships and Bursaries for OUSL Undergraduates

• OUSL International Opportunities

OUSL also promote Erasmus Mundus, ACU and other international grad scholarship programs. These programmes aim to enhance the quality of higher education and promote dialogue and understanding between people and cultures through mobility and academic cooperation.

3. State University Research Opportunities

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) in Sri Lanka offers research scholarships for postgraduate students in local universities.

These are for full-time research (MPhil or PhD) and are only recognised for Sri Lankan Universities. This is a major opportunity but students don’t apply because they are not aware of the deadlines and eligibility criteria.

Below are some Gov. linked scholarships for for studying abroad

1. Government Foreign Scholarship Program (MoHE)

The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has a division for Foreign Scholarships for Local Students. If you meet the required eligibility criteria, you will be able to study abroad.

2. Cabinet-Approved Foreign Scholarships (2025)

In July 2025, the Sri Lankan Cabinet approved a new gov. scholarship scheme for students to study abroad. They have allocated Rs. 200 million in the 2025 budget for it. This program aims to pick 20-50 high‑achieving A/L students in the first phase, with a long-term plan to increase to about 200 students by 2029. The scholarship covers up to 4 years at foreign universities.

These scholarships open real potential for students who can’t afford self-funding to go abroad and study. By immersing yourself in international education portals like these, you can play a vital role in boosting the country’s human capital and international outlook.

For details regarding non-state university scholarship and funding scheme options, visit: What Sri Lankan students miss about non-state university scholarships