Government to set up a grant scheme for English learners

 The Cabinet has granted its approval to set up a grant scheme for English learners under the 'English as a Life Skill' Programm. Accordingly 10,000 rupees will be granted to students from Samurdhi families and 6,000 rupees to those from non-Samurdhi families.
 The number of beneficiaries will be proportional to the total number of Samurdhi families in the country and accordingly 50,000 students will be selected and trained over a period of three years.
 A total of 46 million rupees will be allocated by the Treasury to implement this scheme in 2008 and further allocations of 62 million rupees and 84 million rupees will be made for 2009 and 2010 respectively.  The programme is to be coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat until an appropriate institutional framework is put in place.
 The government’s approval has been given to accept the project proposal of BP Solar Company of Australia for the provision of solar power to rural institutions in the Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Northern and Eastern Provinces.The total cost of the project will be  18,703,000 US dollars.