The number of Mahapola Scholarship recipients has increased to 11,300 with the 1,000 new recipients this year. First year university students will be granted scholarships at a ceremony to be held at the BMICH on Saturday.

Colombo district students will receive scholarships at the BMICH while students of other districts will receive scholarships at a ceremony organised by the District Secretaries in their districts.

Mahapola Scholarship Trust Fund director Ranjith Thenuwara denied allegations that the grant of scholarships was delayed by an year.

The number of Mahapola Scholarship recipients was 10,300 last year. It was decided to increase the number of recipients by another 1,000 from this year on the direction of Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernanthando,