People’s Bank and UGC tie up to grant loans to undergrads

People’s Bank has entered into a partnership with the University Grants Commission (UGC) to grant loan facilities to undergraduates of all universities under easy repayment plans.

The special loan scheme has been introduced to fulfill a promise given by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his election manifesto “Saubagye Dekma” to empower all university undergraduates with the latest technology.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) announcing the partnership was exchanged between Sujeewa Rajapakse, Chairman of People’s Bank and Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunge, Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) at the People’s Bank Head Office last week.

Ranjith Kodituwakku, Chief Executive Officer/General Manager of People’s Bank, Dr. Priyantha Premakumara, Secretary of UGC, Ubayakula Ranaweera, Head of Finance/Accountant of UGC with K. B. Rajapakse, Senior Deputy General Manager -Retail Banking, G. P. Renuka Jayasinghe, Deputy General Manager – Process Management, Quality Assurance and Retail Banking and Lionel Galagedara, Deputy General Manager – Channel Management, were also present.

With this historical partnership, all Sri Lankan undergraduates will benefit through a concessionary loan scheme to purchase laptop computers which suit their respective education areas. The loan facilities will be granted to purchase laptops with specifications that are pre-approved by the University Grants Commission at a more concessionary interest rate with easy repayment plans.

The undergraduates are privileged to pay only the interest component during the university course, while repayment of the loan capital will begin after they have graduated from their respective universities.

Sujeewa Rajapakse, Chairman of People’s Bank said, “We are pleased to introduce this special loan scheme for undergraduates of all universities in the country. We are confident that these laptops will assist them to pursue their studies, while providing them access to global knowledge to be always updated in their respective field.”

Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunge, Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) noted,, “Today, we marked another milestone in our university system in the country, I hope this strong bond with the largest bank with a widespread branch network will provide all the undergraduates a great opportunity to complete their degrees while creating financial discipline in their life.”