The events, held in five Provinces, showcased the remarkable progress made by the students, highlighting their improved English proficiency, confidence, and communication abilities.
Addressing the English Day of the Western and North Western Provinces held at G.B. Senenayake College Auditorium, Ekala, Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of CSR of John Keells Holdings PLC stated,
“We are happy and proud to witness the enthusiastic efforts and impressive performances of our scholars.
What is more important is what you do beyond the learning you have received over the past few months and the skills you have displayed today, We hope that you will continue to master your communication and ICT skills, not only for pursuing higher education and career opportunities, but also in contributing to the development of our country.”
`English for Teens’ is a flagship initiative of JKELSP, delivered under two tiers.
Tier 1 offers over 700 scholarships annually to students aged 12–14 from mid-range government schools to enhance their English Language communication skills and obtain foundation level knowledge in ICT.
Students are nominated by their principals and selected through a placement test. Learning outcomes are benchmarked through both a course-end examination and the annual English Day events.
High-performing scholars have the opportunity to progress to Tier 2.
The English Days serve as a platform for students to demonstrate their learning in English and ICT, as well as their creativity and confidence.
Since project inception in 2004, John Keells Foundation awarded over 21,500 scholarships to deserving schoolchildren in various parts of the country.
The final round of Tier 2 English Day was conducted online on 26th June 2025, while the Tier 1 English Days were held regionally in the Eastern, Southern, Central, Western, and North Central Provinces from late July to early September.
These events featured competition items on both PowerPoint presentations and dramas, as a means of showcasing the learnings of the students.
Over 44 volunteers from John Keells Group supported the events by assisting with pre-event preparations, serving as judges, and providing on-ground support.
A parent of a participating student from central province commented,
“Despite the limited attention given to rural communities in talent searches, John Keells Foundation has taken the initiative to discover and nurture the potential of our children.
This programme represents more than a certificate; it is a meaningful investment in their future success.”
A new intake for JKELSP will open in September 2025 encompassing a total of over 18 locations in all provinces of the country.
Students and parents are encouraged to watch for application announcements through schools.
In addition to `English for Teens’, JKELSP also encompasses Immersion Camps for university undergraduates, as well as customised programmes for working adults and persons with disabilities.
Education, Community & Livelihoods, Social Health & Cohesion, and Biodiversity are the four focus areas of John Keells Foundation - the CSR entity of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), largest company listed on the CSE in terms of market capitalization operating over 80 companies in 7 diverse industry sectors.
With a history of over 150 years, the John Keells Group provides employment to over 18,000 persons and has been ranked as Sri Lanka's 'Most Respected Entity' for the last 20 Years by LMD magazine.
JKH has placed first for the fourth consecutive year in the 'Transparency in Corporate Reporting Assessment' by Transparency International Sri Lanka.
Whilst being a full member of the World Economic Forum and a participant of the UN Global Compact, JKH drives its CSR vision of `Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’ through John Keells Foundation and through the social entrepreneurship initiative, ‘Plasticcycle’, which is a catalyst in significantly reducing plastic pollution in Sri Lanka.
Photo Caption - Scholars of the John Keells English Language Scholarship Programme (JKELSP) 2024/25 showcase their progress and confidence at English Days held across five provinces.