Projects - WSAP
In 2022, the University of Peradeniya approached the Colombo Chapter of the Alumni Association seeking funding for scholarships to be offered to needy students. This led to dialogue with the university and funds raised by the NZ chapter of over $2,000 were initially used to top up Mahapola Scholarship scheme that was in place to help with students’ costs of education at the university. Following on from the success of this initial efforts, Prof. Dileepa De Silva, Director, Career Guidance Unit of the University approached the NZ Chapter to fund thirty three students selected from across the university for placements in part time work of ten hours per month for a year commencing January 2023. Strict criteria based on financial needs was used to select the students to participate in this noteworthy program. Hence the Working Student Assistantship Programme (WSAP) was born.
Phase I of this program was in 2023 and was fully funded by our association at a total cost of Rs. 693,500.00.
At the conclusion of this first Phase of the program a meeting was arranged by the Director of the Career Guidance Unit at which a few students who benefitted from the programme along with senior officials from the university and committee members of the NZ chapter participated. The stories shared by the students were truly very touching.
In March 2024, another meeting was arranged with members of the University officials including the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and committee members of the NZ Chapter of the Alumni Association attending, which resulted in the launch of Phase II of the program. This phase too was fully funded by the association at a total cost of Rs. 1,060,000.00.
And, more recently in May 2025, the Director of the WSAP program and the Assistant Registrar addressed our committee, and the association decided to support the program for the next Phase. This phase III is expected to commence shortly with 30 students benefitting from a monthly payment of Rs. 5000.00 per student over a six month period. During this period, the enlisted students are expected to be assigned 10 hours of work per month in fields aligned to their study. The association will look to alumni and well-wishers in New Zealand to come on board to support this worthy cause.
Projects - Other
Ever since its inception in 2009, the NZ chapter of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, its members and well-wishers have readily responded to appeals for assistance from the university when a specific need arises.
In 2010, in response to a request from the parent body, the association donated books to veterinary and dental science faculties of the university.
In 2011, the association sponsored seven scholarships for first year students at the university to the value of $150 per student.
In 2015 and 2016 the association presented the Peradeniya University Medical library with books to the value of $4,030.
In 2019, in response to a request from the Science Faculty of the university of Peradeniya, a donation of equipment including a computer, a fridge, and a grinder were made by the association. The total value of this donation was $1,817.50. This was duly acknowledged by the head of the department of Chemistry of the science Faculty.
Again in 2019 and 2020, the association donated books to the value of $1,050 to the Management Faculty of the university.
In 2020, the association fully funded the Mobile Platform for Monitoring Covid 19 Non-critical patients, costing $4,220. This was a research project undertaken by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Peradeniya. The unit was donated for use at Kandy National Hospital.