All state universities are funded through the government and undergraduate education is free in these universities. All postgraduate education is fee-levied, unless sponsored by the government. Government also provides grants for students through the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund.
Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund
The Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund (also known as the Mahapola Trust Fund or the Mahapola Scholarship) is an educational trust fund created and operated by the Government of Sri Lanka. Established by Minister of Education Lalith Athulathmudali through the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund Act No. 66 of 1981, its objective is the provision of financial assistance to students undertaking higher education. The original funds were raised by Athulathmudali through personal donations and a series of regional fairs known as Mahapola. The Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees chaired by the Chief Justice.
The fund has also founded the Development Lotteries Board and the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology.