Prof. Amaratunge went on to say that he had the privilege to meet the late Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali for a very brief moment in 1984 as a 20-year-old university student when he and his batch mates together with the university officials attended the Mahapola Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Gankanda Central College, Pelmadulla. The epitome of humility – Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali himself handed over the certificates to all the students who had come from all over the country. The Mahapola scholarship he got came under the ‘normal’ category and the scholarship amount was Rs. 350/- At the scholarship awards ceremony, they also got a cheque for three months arrears of the scholarship and the students were ecstatic to have so much money in their hands. He spend the money on  an alarm clock. Then he went home and gave it to my mother and said ‘from tomorrow onwards, you don’t have to wake up in the night to wake him up in the morning. This clock will do the duty now.’

Prof. Amaratunge further said that he was fortunate enough to go to Ananda College, Colombo from Grade 1 to Grade 12, his family was a lower-middle class family and his father was a clerk. Since he took part in a number of extra-curricular activities at school, the only time left to study was early in the morning. So during his A/L days, that are early 1980s, he had this habit of getting up at 2.00 a.m. to study. Alarm clocks were a luxury for him at the time as lower- middle class people and it was his mother who used to wake me up at 2.00 a.m. every day. Never did she miss this ordeal and he was so puzzled as to how she managed to wake me up sharp at 2.00 a.m. every day he asked her one day and she said that when she goes to bed, she resolves to wake up early and when she does wake up – mostly around 11.00 pm or 12.00 midnight, she’ll get out of the bed and sit somewhere until 2.00 am and then wake him up. This made him so sad and he was so worried about his mother.

But he was young and didn’t see any alternative to this; he exhausted himself at school with all kinds of extracurricular activities and society work and at the same time I was studying for his  A/Ls. He came home so tired and his mother didn’t see it as a hassle to stay awake in the night to wake up her young son to study for his A/Ls. He did get through his A/Ls in 1982 and got entrance to the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. But going to university was also a strain on the economy of his family and it was a compromise on the part of his parents and his siblings. That’s where the Mahapola scholarship came to their rescue.

It was during the University Orientation programme, he had got the letter informing that he had been selected to receive a Mahapola Scholarship. When he went home that day after university, his grandmother had also come to visit them. His mother handed him the letter saying ‘You’ve got a scholarship; now your future is secure.’ It is in this sense that the late Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali was a visionary thinker and a pragmatic leader who took this excellent initiative that has benefited and continues to benefit millions of students of this country.

Prof. Amaratunge further said that  the sad thing is, most of the scholars and professionals who have benefitted from Mahapola scholarships have turned their back to the country and gone abroad seeking greener pastures. They serve other countries, not the motherland that put them on their feet. But the remaining few scholars and professionals are happy to serve the country as His Excellency the President has made it worthwhile with his able leadership. The country is prospering and the educated enjoy a high living standard. His Excellency has also enriched the Mahapola scholarship scheme by increasing the amount by 60% to Rs. 4,000/- with effect from 2015 which is a highly commendable initiative.

He also mentioned that Today as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and in various other capacities get to travel around the world. Wherever he go, he buy presents for his family including his mother, who is still hale and hearty. But the alarm clock he bought her with his first Mahapola installment a long time ago is still a prized possession of his mother. She holds it closer to her heart just the way he and many students still hold Mahapola scholarship closer to our hearts despite our later riches.He also pointed out that there are some people who have left a lasting impact on his life and the late Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali belongs to that category.