🔴 Board of Governors Meeting of the President’s Fund for 2025
🔴 Approval Granted for Regional-Level Service Delivery via the President’s Fund
The Board of Governors of the President’s Fund convened 28 at the Presidential Secretariat under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake to outline plans and initiatives for the year 2025. During the meeting, approval was granted to extend the fund’s services to rural areas through a streamlined process coordinated via Divisional Secretariat offices. This decision aims to ensure that the fund’s benefits reach the grassroots level, providing greater relief and support to underserved communities.
One of the key topics discussed was the issue of surgical delays in government hospitals. To address this, the council proposed facilitating surgeries outside regular working hours and offering incentives to medical staff involved in these after-hours procedures, with funding provided by the President’s Fund. Currently, this initiative is operational at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, and plans are underway to expand it to the National Hospital in Colombo, the Kandy General Hospital, and the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital. These measures are designed to provide faster and more efficient healthcare services to patients.
The council also explored the possibility of broadening educational support for students. It emphasized the need to launch new programs targeting children preparing for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations while continuing and expanding existing initiatives. The aim is to ensure that a larger number of students benefit from these educational programs funded by the President’s Fund.
Discussions during the meeting also focused on identifying current challenges, developing new proposals, and enhancing the efficiency of the fund to deliver tangible benefits to the public.
The meeting was attended by several prominent figures, including Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Secretary of the President’s Fund and the Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, Professor J R P Jayakody, former Auditor General and MP Sarath Chandrasiri Mayadunne, and other senior officials of the President’s Fund.
🔴 President’s Fund to Provide Services at the Regional Level Starting from February 7
🔴 New Technology and Networking to Bring President’s Fund Services Closer to the People
In an effort to provide more efficient services to the public, the President’s Fund is set to launch a new initiative to deliver services at the regional level through the offices of the Divisional Secretaries, under the leadership of President Anura Kumar Disanayake on February 7 at the Colombo.
Previously, the official work of the President’s Fund was limited to the Colombo area. However, under the new plan, these services will be extended nationwide through 341 sub-offices established at Divisional Secretary offices across the country.
The relevant pilot projects for five selected Divisional Secretary offices are already operational, and the full-scale implementation of the new service model will begin nationwide on February 7.
This initiative was announced during a virtual meeting at the President’s Office to brief Divisional Secretaries about the new approach to the President’s Fund’s services.
Secretary of the President’s Fund and the Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, highlighted that the new digitalization and networking plan aims to provide more efficient and effective services to the public.
Through this system, anyone can request financial assistance related to their disease at their local Divisional Secretary office, and the necessary documentation can be submitted there as well.
During the discussion, Divisional Secretaries were informed about the procedures for selecting patients, preparing the necessary documents and the responsibilities of the President’s Fund.
The President’s Fund, currently located on the third floor of the Lake House Building at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo 10, will be relocated to a new premises from the 01st of January 2025.
The new office will be established on the ground floor of the Standard Chartered Building, situated at Colombo 01, opposite the President’s House on Janadhipathi Mawatha.
From January 1, 2025, members of the public seeking services from the Presidential Fund will be able to visit the new office at this location.
