President Maithripala Sirisena granted Rs. one million to Gihan Hettiarachchi, a student of Gampaha Bandaranaike College, who made a rocket that can travel up to 20  kilometres.

The money will be used to further develop the rocket and experiment it. 

The rocket developed by student Gihan Hettiarachchi drew the attention of Sirisena when the latter attended the school’s Centenary Celebrations. During this event, the President appreciated the invention of the student and promised to provide necessary financial assistance to complete the project. .

While providing the grant, Sirisena also called in the technical officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force and instructed them to provide necessary assistance to the student to launch the rocket.